String-Based Technology to Revolutionize Lithium Production

• 19 Sep 2023

Recently, scientists have developed a groundbreaking string-based technology with the potential to transform lithium production.

Key Points

• Breakthrough: Researchers at the University of Princeton have pioneered a technique that significantly reduces land usage and production time.
• This advancement can enhance lithium production at existing facilities worldwide while making previously untapped sources economically viable.
• String-Based Approach: The researchers employed porous fibers twisted into strings, designed with a hydrophilic core and a hydrophobic surface.
• When one end is immersed in a saltwater solution, capillary action causes water to ascend the string, similar to how trees transport water from roots to leaves.
• Efficient Salt Crystal Formation: Rapid surface evaporation of water leaves behind salt ions, including sodium and lithium.
• As the salts become more concentrated, they crystallize into sodium chloride and lithium chloride crystals, which can be easily harvested.
• Lithium Production Challenges: A significant portion of the world's lithium is sourced from expansive "brine reservoirs" located in salt flats.
• The conventional extraction method demands vast areas and can take several months or even years to yield usable lithium for batteries.
• Surging Lithium Demand: The global demand for lithium was 500,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent in 2021, and it is projected to surge to two to three million tons by 2030, primarily driven by the growing adoption of electric vehicles and energy storage solutions.
• Expanding Resource Opportunities: The technology opens doors to extract lithium from previously overlooked sources, including defunct oil and gas wells and geothermal brines, which were deemed too small or diluted for practical lithium extraction.