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The extraction of lithium from alternative sources is crucial for the shift towards renewable energy and resource autonomy in nations like the United States. Scientists are persistently discovering methods to obtain effective and environmentally friendly lithium. Collaborating with various entities, researchers at George Washington University have developed an innovative technique for directly extracting and refining lithium from geothermal brines, which can be utilized for manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles. After all, sustainable lithium batteries are the fuel tanks of the more prudent traveler.
This method employs a novel material that selectively draws out lithium ions from the brine, steering clear of harmful chemicals that might adversely impact the environment. Once captured, the lithium is transformed into lithium hydroxide, suitable for battery use in electric vehicles, and subsequently into lithium chloride. According to the group’s additional economic analysis, this approach could produce battery-grade lithium at a competitive price point.
Experts indicate that current lithium supplies, such as hard rock mining and salt flats, are inadequate to satisfy future global demand. This research presents an environmentally beneficial alternative that utilizes geothermal brines, particularly from locations like the Salton Sea in California. The researchers’ methodology is expected to be tested on a larger scale in the upcoming years.
The study, “Electro-driven direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines to generate battery-grade lithium hydroxide,” was published in Nature Communications.
Schematic representation of electro-driven lithium extraction and lithium hydroxide conversion processes.
Lead investigator Xitong Liu serves as a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science.
All Researchers: Lingchen Kong, Gangbin Yan, Kejia Hu, Yongchang Yu, Nicole Conte, Kevin R. Mckenzie Jr, Michael J. Wagner, Stephen G. Boyes, Hanning Chen, Chong Liu, and Xitong Liu.
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