Scientists Discover Innovative Method to Extract Lithium from Salt Water
Researchers at The George Washington University (GWU) have announced a breakthrough in lithium extraction that could significantly impact the electric vehicle (EV) industry. The team claims to have developed a new process to capture lithium from brine, potentially leading to more affordable EVs and a more sustainable approach to lithium sourcing.
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The current methods of lithium extraction, which often involve environmentally harmful mining and the use of chemicals, are drawing criticism. The GWU method offers a more sustainable alternative, using an “electro-driven method” that employs a “special material” to selectively capture lithium ions from brine. This process converts the lithium into lithium hydroxide, a key component in EV batteries. The method is also designed to be cost-competitive.
Researchers are focusing on the Salton Sea in California as a potential source for this extraction. The Sea’s high salt content, exceeding that of oceans, makes it an ideal location for lithium harvesting. According to Nature, approximately 600,000 tons of lithium could be extracted annually from the Salton Sea.
This new extraction method could create a more stable domestic supply chain for this crucial material. Currently, the lithium market is largely controlled by foreign countries, which can present logistical and economic challenges. For example, export rules from China have caused concern over the availability of graphite, a critical component in EV batteries.
The GWU innovation features a complex system, including an “intercalation deionization cell,” production and injection wells, and other technologies. Hot brine is pumped to the surface. The resulting steam can then be used to generate electricity. The brine is cooled, and the lithium is extracted. Finally, the lithium hydroxide is converted into a powder for battery makers.
The journal Nature reported that the unit achieved high purity during testing. The team plans to test this tech at a larger scale.
Other avenues for lithium extraction are also being explored. Princeton is investigating a method involving the evaporation of brine on strings, while researchers in Chicago are working another approaches. These exciting innovations are integral to power a more sustainable and cleaner future.
“In terms of innovations, we need all of them — even those that may seem quite exotic at this point: fusion, direct air capture, and others,” said Sergey Paltsev from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in an MIT report.
