Posted on 10/24/2024 5:18:42 AM PDT by Red Badger
Lithium can now be extracted directly from previously untapped extreme environments.
The demand for lithium, essential for powering sustainable technologies, is rising quickly, yet current methods leave up to 75% of the world’s lithium-rich saltwater sources inaccessible.
With some predicting global lithium supply could fall short of demand as early as 2025, the innovative technology – EDTA-aided loose nanofiltration (EALNF) – sets a new standard in lithium processing. The technology uniquely extracts both lithium and magnesium simultaneously, unlike traditional methods that treat magnesium salts as waste, making it smarter, faster and more sustainable.
The work, co-led by Dr Zhikao Li, from the Monash Suzhou Research Institute and the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Professor Xiwang Zhang from the University of Queensland, promises to meet the surging demand for lithium and paves the way for more sustainable and efficient extraction practices.
Studies undertaken on brines from China’s Longmu Co Lake and Dongtai Lake, published in Nature Sustainability, demonstrate how the innovative method could efficiently extract lithium from low-grade brines with high magnesium content. At the heart of the innovation is a type of nanofiltration that uses a selective chelating agent to separate lithium from other minerals, especially magnesium, which is often present in brines and difficult to remove.
Advantages in Harsh Conditions
“High-altitude salt brine flats in countries like China (Tibet and Qinghai) and Bolivia are examples of areas with tougher brine conditions that have traditionally been ignored. In remote desert areas, the vast amounts of water, chemicals, and infrastructure required for conventional extraction just aren’t available either, underscoring the need for innovative technologies,” Dr Li said.
“With Monash University’s EALNF technology, these can now be commercially viable sources of lithium and valuable contributors to the global supply chain. Our technology achieves 90 percent lithium recovery, nearly double the performance of traditional methods, while dramatically reducing the time required for extraction from years to mere weeks.”
The technology also turns leftover magnesium into a valuable, high-quality product that can be sold, reducing waste and its impact on the environment.
Beyond its advanced efficiency, the EALNF system brings innovation to address major environmental concerns associated with lithium extraction. Unlike conventional methods that deplete vital water resources in arid regions, the technology produces freshwater as a by-product.
Dr Li said the system was flexible and ready for large-scale use, meaning it can quickly expand from testing to full industrial operations.
“This breakthrough is crucial for avoiding a future lithium shortage, making it possible to access lithium from hard-to-reach sources and helping power the shift to clean energy.”
Reference:
“Sustainable lithium extraction and magnesium hydroxide co-production from salt-lake brines”
by:
Ming Yong, Meng Tang, Liangliang Sun, Fei Xiong, Lei Xie, Gaofeng Zeng, Xiaoqiong Ren, Ke Wang, Yuan Cheng, Zhikao Li, Enchao Li, Xiwang Zhang and Huanting Wang, 22 October 2024, Nature Sustainability.
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01435-2
Isn’t lithium extraction harmful to the planet? Doesn’t it require lots of chemicals and basically more damaging to the earth than fracking? Just curious.
Research participants....
“Ming Yong, Meng Tang, Liangliang Sun, Fei Xiong, Lei Xie, Gaofeng Zeng, Xiaoqiong Ren, Ke Wang, Yuan Cheng, Zhikao Li, Enchao Li, Xiwang Zhang and Huanting Wang,”
This is Australia, Chinese seem to lead scientific research everywhere.
Sum Ting Wong?................
yes, head of America’s technology policies.
Fracking also allows access to crazy amounts of lithium..
GO HORNS!!
There is over 100,000 wells in the Permian basin...each and every one flows back salty brine at a ratio typical of the basin six to one water to oil. Read that again and tell us how we will ever be out of lithium. Hint we won’t it’s bloody salt water the planet is full of it. As the value goes up more is available that’s the law of minerals any geologist can tell you this. For every doubling in market price for a mineral ten times more becomes economic to get at.
It won’t matter soon as sodium ion tech is already on mass production the industry will shift to sodium for all but the most high end energy density needs and for that solid state will be the choice with aluminum ,Iron or any of the multi valance metals like calcium ,magnesium vs mono valence electrons like lithium. Sodium is cheap it has a place at the lower end of the cost scale. Lithium is a stepping stone to all other battery tech it is the easiest to use due to how reactive it is once you understand it’s single valence state the multis open up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.