Lithium hydroxide monohydrate

The Uses of Lithium hydroxide monohydrate

Lithium hydroxide monohydrate is used for the production of lithium greases, lithium soaps, lithium stearate and lithium salts. It finds application as a carbon dioxide adsorbent in breathing gas purification systems for spacecrafts, submarines and rebreathers; as a storage-battery electrolyte; as a heat transfer medium and as a catalyst for polymerization reaction. It is also used in ceramics and some portland cement formulations.

The Uses of Lithium hydroxide monohydrate

Used in catalyst for alkyd resins.

What are the applications of Application

Lithium hydroxide monohydrate is a compound used in the preparation of lithium salts

Preparation

Lithium hydroxide monohydrate may also be made by the evaporation of a solution prepared by the reaction of calcium hydroxide and lithium carbonate.Anhydrous lithium hydroxide may be prepared by heating the monohydrate in air or in a vacuum.

General Description

Small colorless crystals. Denser than water. Contact may cause severe irritation to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption. Used to make electric storage batteries, soaps, and lubricants.
An aqueous solution of a lithium salt below its boiling point has been considered for both a tritium breeding blanket and as a coolant in several fusion reactor designs. In order to breed sufficient tritium to fuel the reactor, a high concentration of lithium is desirable and lithium hydroxide is sufficiently soluble for this purpose. The solution would be contained in pipes and heat exchangers, most probably made from carbon steel.

Air & Water Reactions

Soluble in water; heat of dissolution may generate steam and cause spattering.

Reactivity Profile

LITHIUM HYDROXIDE MONOHYDRATE neutralizes acids exothermically to form salts plus water. Reacts with certain metals (such as aluminum and zinc) to form oxides or hydroxides of the metal and generate gaseous hydrogen. May initiate polymerization reactions in polymerizable organic compounds, especially epoxides. May generate flammable and/or toxic gases with ammonium salts, nitrides, halogenated organics, various metals, peroxides, and hydroperoxides. May serve as a catalyst. Reacts when heated above about 84°C with aqueous solutions of reducing sugars other than sucrose to evolve toxic levels of carbon monoxide [Bretherick, 5th Ed., 1995].

Health Hazard

TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution.

Fire Hazard

Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes. Some are oxidizers and may ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated.

Purification Methods

It crystallises from hot water (3mL/g) as the monohydrate. It is dehydrated at 150o in a stream of CO2-free air. It sublimes at 220o with partial decomposition [Cohen Inorg Synth V 3 1957, Bravo Inorg Synth VII 1 1963].