An Australian-Chinese research team has developed groundbreaking technology that enables direct lithium extraction from extreme environments such as deserts. This innovation promises to significantly boost global lithium supplies, essential for the burgeoning clean energy sector.
In a recent study, scientists from Monash University and the University of Queensland demonstrated the efficiency of their method by extracting lithium from saltwater samples taken from China’s Longmu Co Lake and Dongtai Lake. The Melbourne-based Monash University announced the breakthrough in a media release on Tuesday.
Lithium plays a crucial role in battery storage technology, making it indispensable in the global transition to clean energy. However, experts have warned that the demand for lithium could outpace supply as early as 2025. Current extraction methods leave up to 75 percent of the world’s lithium-rich saltwater untapped, particularly in harsh environments.
The new technology employs a nanofiltration process using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to directly and efficiently extract lithium and magnesium from salt-lake brines. This method, known as EDTA-aided loose nanofiltration (EALNF), has shown remarkable results.
Project co-leaders Li Zhikao from the Monash Suzhou Research Institute in Jiangsu Province and Zhang Xiwang from the University of Queensland believe that EALNF could meet the surging global demand for lithium. Li explained that the technology achieves a 90 percent lithium recovery rate from brine sources, nearly doubling the efficiency of traditional methods, and reduces extraction time from years to mere weeks.
“High-altitude salt brine flats in countries like China and Bolivia have tougher brine conditions that have traditionally been ignored,” Li said. “In remote desert areas, the vast amounts of water, chemicals, and infrastructure required for conventional extraction just aren’t available, underscoring the need for innovative technologies.”
“With Monash University’s EALNF technology, these areas can now become commercially viable sources of lithium and valuable contributors to the global supply chain,” he added.
Unlike traditional methods that treat magnesium—often present in brines and difficult to remove—as waste, the EALNF technology transforms it into a high-quality product that can be sold. This not only enhances the economic viability of the extraction process but also reduces environmental impact.
Li noted that the technology is ready to transition rapidly from testing phases to full industrial operations. “We are excited about the potential of this technology to revolutionize lithium extraction and support the global shift toward clean energy,” he said.
Reference(s):
New tech enables direct lithium extraction from extreme environments
cgtn.com
