Lithium from Extreme Environments



 Lithium is important for powering nearly all sustainable technologies. The demand for lithium is growing. Currently 75% of all lithium is locked in saltwater sources and remains untappable.  Monash students have created a world-first technology. They are harvesting lithium directly from these difficult to process sources. 

Some researchers claim that the world's supply of lithium could fall short of demand next year. The new technology is called EDTA-aided loose nanofiltration (EALNF). The new way of processing materials extracts both lithium and magnesium. Unlike traditional methods, this new technology doesn't treat magnesium salts as waste, making it smarter faster and eco-friendly. 

Two main researchers worked on this project, Dr. Zhikao Li from the Monash Suzhou Research Institute and Professor Xiwang Zhang from the University of Queensland. Their work attempts to met the rising demand for lithium and makes the extraction process more eco-friendly. The study was published on October 22 in Nature Stability. The scientists used brines taken from China's Longmu Co Lake and Dongtai Lake. The team show how to efficiently withdraw lithium from low-grade brines that have high magnesium content. 

The basis of the new technique is a type of nanofiltration. It uses a selective chelating material to separate lithium from other particles, especially magnesium. Magnesium is frequently present in brines and is very difficult to remove. 

Dr Li reports, "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 technology. With Monash Universities' EALNF technology, these can be commercially viable sources of lithium and valuable contributors to the global supply chain. Our technology achieves 90% lithium recovery, nearly double the performance of traditional methods, while dramatically reducing the time required for extraction from years to mere weeks."

The leftover magnesium gets turned into a valuable, high quality product. It can be sold, reducing waste. 

The new system is flexible and ready for large scale use. Dr. Li summarizes, "This breakthrough is crucial for avoiding a future lithium storage, making it possible to access lithium from hard-to-reach sources and helping power the shift to clean energy." 

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