Water-splitting reaction reversal could extract lithium more sustainably and cheaply
Environmentally-friendly electrochemistry could cut extraction costs by 40%
A new electrodialysis technique that directly and continuously extracts lithium from brines could be around 40% cheaper and have a much smaller environmental footprint than the most common mining method. Currently, the metal is mined by pumping natural lithium brines from underground aquifers into evaporation ponds and this takes a great deal of energy and chemical processing, as well as vast areas of land.
If the method can be scaled up, the work could help meet the ever-growing demand for the metal for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage, while lowering its price, according to the researchers.