New 'String' Technology to Change Lithium Extraction

Fei Ruby, Tech Times 13 September 2023, 07:09 am

An innovative lithium extraction technique has been created by Princeton University researchers. Lithium is an essential component of electric car batteries and energy storage devices.

Due to the enormous environmental and logistical difficulties associated with conventional techniques, this innovation is anticipated to completely change the lithium production sector. The discovery fits with a larger worldwide trend toward eco-friendly energy sources.

Chile Mines Lithium From Salt Flats Of Atacama Desert

(Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)
A lithium mine supervisor inspects an evaporation pond of lithium-rich brine in the Atacama Desert on August 24, 2022, in Salar de Atacama, Chile.

Easier Ways to Mine Lithium

Lithium extraction normally involves extraction from salty water sources, which may take over a year to commence. Princeton researchers have created a ground-breaking approach to minimize the amount of land and time needed for lithium extraction.

The new technology uses strings made of porous fibers that can both attract and repel water. Capillary action causes water to move up the strings when submerged in a saltwater solution. As the water swiftly evaporates, concentrated salt ions like sodium and lithium are left behind.

These salts concentrate when the water evaporates, crystallizing onto the strings as sodium chloride and lithium chloride crystals, making the harvesting process easier.

Notable Advantages

Due to the physical differences between sodium and lithium, this method is notable for its capacity to separate the two elements along a string. Lithium salts crystallize towards the top of the string whereas sodium crystallizes in the bottom portion of the string, enabling individual collection without the need for extra reagents.

The limited supply of lithium, which is a problem in a low-carbon world, could be addressed by this recent advancement in lithium extraction. Leading the approach was Z. Jason Ren, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton University.

This procedure is an energy-efficient response to a pressing problem since it is affordable, simple to use, and uses little energy. When compared to conventional evaporation techniques, the approach significantly reduces the amount of water used.

The string method, a portable substitute for traditional brine extraction techniques, greatly speeds up lithium production. Researchers predict that this method might decrease the amount of land needed for evaporation by over 90% and accelerate it by more than 20 times, perhaps permitting the first lithium harvests in less than a month.

The idea needs further development before it can be scaled up, but it might greatly minimize the need for expensive pond building.

Expanding Progress

Due to this method's small magnitude, low cost, and quick operation, previously regarded as too small or dilute geothermal brines, abandoned oil and gas wells may now be accessible for lithium extraction. Due to its faster evaporation rate, it would be possible to operate in humid environments and even extract lithium from saltwater.

Study co-author Sunxiang Zheng compared the procedure to "putting an evaporation pond on a string," noting its smaller geographical impact and fine extraction control. The researchers think their method might become a strong candidate for general adoption because it uses inexpensive basic materials and doesn't require chemical treatments.

Immediate Progress

Researchers at Princeton University are developing a second-generation technique to improve efficiency and control over the crystallization process of lithium. Funding from the Princeton Catalysis Initiative, NSF Partnerships for Innovation Award, and Princeton's Intellectual Property Accelerator Fund has bolstered their efforts.

The team is also exploring the technology's potential for extracting other critical minerals. Sunxiang Zheng, part of the START Entrepreneurs cohort, is leading the launch of PureLi Inc., aiming to refine the technology and bring it to the market.

Zheng, a researcher, expressed excitement about a new technology that, with additional efficiency improvements, has the potential to significantly impact the world, despite its potential to be too expensive or difficult to scale.