Editing Lithium (section)

=== Air purification ===
[[Lithium chloride]] and [[lithium bromide]] are [[hygroscopic]] and are used as [[desiccant]]s for gas streams.<ref name="CRC" /> Lithium hydroxide and [[lithium peroxide]] are the salts most commonly used in confined areas, such as aboard [[spacecraft]] and [[submarine]]s, for carbon dioxide removal and air purification. Lithium hydroxide absorbs [[carbon dioxide]] from the air by forming lithium carbonate, and is preferred over other alkaline hydroxides for its low weight.

Lithium peroxide (Li<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) in presence of moisture not only reacts with carbon dioxide to form lithium carbonate, but also releases oxygen.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Air Quality Systems for Related Enclosed Spaces: Spacecraft Air |author=Mulloth, L.M. |author2=Finn, J.E. |name-list-style=amp |title=The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry |date=2005 |volume=4H |pages=383–404 |doi=10.1007/b107253 |isbn=978-3-540-25019-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=AD0619497 |title=Application of lithium chemicals for air regeneration of manned spacecraft |publisher=Lithium Corporation of America & Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories |date=1965 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007040028/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=AD0619497 |archive-date=7 October 2012}}</ref> The reaction is as follows:
:2 Li<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> + 2 CO<sub>2</sub> → 2 Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + O<sub>2</sub>
Some of the aforementioned compounds, as well as [[lithium perchlorate]], are used in [[Chemical oxygen generator#Oxygen candle|oxygen candles]] that supply [[submarine]]s with [[oxygen]]. These can also include small amounts of [[boron]], [[magnesium]], [[aluminium]], [[silicon]], [[titanium]], [[manganese]], and [[iron]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Markowitz |first1=M. M. |last2=Boryta |first2=D. A. |last3=Stewart |first3=Harvey |title=Lithium Perchlorate Oxygen Candle. Pyrochemical Source of Pure Oxygen |journal=Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Product Research and Development |volume=3 |issue=4 |year=1964 |pages=321–30 |doi=10.1021/i360012a016}}</ref>