Stanford researchers have developed a new method lithium extraction This could revolutionize the industry. Not only is it significantly cheaper than traditional procedures, but it is also more environmentally friendly. One of the sectors that could benefit most from its widespread implementation would be electric caras this could potentially streamline the supply chain and reduce the cost of developing batteries for electric vehicles.
The method in question was identified by its creators as SSV or redox electrodialysis (redox couple electrodialysis) It involves using electricity to move lithium through a solid-state electrolytic membrane, starting with water with a low lithium concentration, passing through cells that convert it into a solution of higher concentration and high purity.
Lithium extraction via RCE eliminate the need for large salt pits to evaporate waterwhich is an important part of conventional mining. It will also significantly reduce the use of chemicals, water, and electricity. But not only that. It can also be used to extract lithium from other saltwater sources, including seawater or oil production wastewater.
Yi CuiStanford University professor of engineering and lead author of the study, says the new lithium extraction model can be applied on an industrial scale and represents a viable alternative to current methods. “We hope that over time, our method will significantly improve electric mobility and the ability to store renewable energy,” he said.
New Method That Could Revolutionize Lithium Mining
Making lithium mining greener and more cost-effective is a big deal. Stanford researchers say their new method will reduce energy consumption less than 10% compared to modern methods of brine extraction. And it is claimed that its efficiency is also significant, since the lithium selectivity reaches almost 100%.
In monetary terms, the difference between traditional approaches to extracting lithium from brine and what could be achieved with CER is also significant. Today, extracting a ton of lithium using brines costs about 9100 US dollarsHowever, scientists claim that their method allows them to obtain a ton of high-purity lithium hydroxide in a period 3500 and 4400 dollars. Thus, lithium can be recovered for 38.46% of its current value using the dominant extraction method. They note that this could then be processed into lithium carbonate for batteries without exorbitant costs.
Of course, all of this has been done in lab tests and not on a large scale. But Stanford experts hope to make that step very soon. And Cui and his team believe that their proposal is sufficiently scalable achieve important successes in the future. In any case, the timeframe for possible implementation is not specified.
Among the many challenges, researchers are seeking to develop a way to extract lithium from salt water sources, where its concentration is less concentrated than in brine. Although for its use in, for example, seawater, the stability of the solid-state electrolyte membrane still needs to be addressed.
Source: Hiper Textual
