The rising demand for lithium, a crucial component in technologies such as renewable energy infrastructure and electric vehicle batteries, is driving new technological advancements aimed at procuring more of the metal. Researchers in China are developing a method for extracting lithium directly from seawater to try and help meet the world’s growing need for this resource.
With lithium prices nearly tripling between 2021 and 2022 and predictions of continued growth, the need for more efficient and sustainable extraction methods has become urgent.
Experts forecast the global lithium market to exceed $6.5 billion by 2030. This rising demand has encouraged scientific initiatives aimed at utilizing Earth’s most abundant water resource — seawater — as a new source.
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The team of Chinese researchers created a solar transpiration-powered lithium extraction and storage device that can pull lithium from seawater.
The solar-powered technology uses iron phosphate electrodes, which can capture and separate lithium ions from saltwater.
It is estimated that the world’s oceans contain around 230 billion tons of lithium, 16,000 times more than the reserves found on land.
However, extracting lithium this way is currently over 10 times more expensive than conventional methods, posing a significant financial barrier.
The Chinese researchers hope their innovation will reduce costs and make this method a viable alternative as global demand for lithium continues to rise.
JACK ALYMER: THE GLOBAL DEMAND FOR LITHIUM IS PUSHING TECH INNOVATION TO UNCHARTED TERRITORY – PULLING THE PRECIOUS METAL STRAIGHT OUT OF THE SEA.
IT’S A PROSPECT THAT CHINESE RESEARCHERS ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A REALITY-
DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE METHOD FOR EFFICIENTLY EXTRACTING LITHIUM FROM SEAWATER.
LITHIUM HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY CRUCIAL COMPONENT FOR A VARIETY OF TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING RENEWABLE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.
BECAUSE OF THAT – THE VALUE OF THIS METAL HAS SKYROCKETED AS OF LATE-
NEARLY TRIPLING BETWEEN 20-21 AND 20-22 ALONE.
WITH EXPERTS PREDICTING IT WILL INCREASE TO OVER 6 AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS BY 20-30.
WHICH IS WHY FINDING A WAY TO TURN THE EARTH’S MOST ABUNDANT WATER RESOURCE INTO THIS COVETED MATERIAL HAS GARNERED THESE SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS.
TO DO THIS, THE CHINESE TEAM HAS CREATED A SOLAR TRANSPIRATION-POWERED LITHIUM EXTRACTION AND STORAGE DEVICE-
ESSENTIALLY HARNESSING SUNLIGHT TO EXTRACT AND STORE LITHIUM FROM SALTWATER.
THE PROCESS USES IRON PHOSPHATE ELECTRODES, WHICH HAVE THE ABILITY TO CAPTURE LITHIUM IONS AND SEPARATE THEM FROM SALTWATER.
IN TOTAL, THERE’S ABOUT 230 BILLION TONS OF LITHIUM IN THE WORLD’S SEAWATER-
ABOUT 16,000 TIMES GREATER THAN THE RESERVES OF THE METAL THAT CAN BE FOUND ON LAND.
HOWEVER, USING A METHOD LIKE THIS TO EXTRACT THAT LITHIUM HAS PROVEN COSTLY-
BEING OVER 10 TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER TECHNIQUES.
A FINANCIAL HURDLE THIS NEW INNOVATION HOPES TO HELP CLEAR-
AS THE IMPORTANCE OF LITHIUM CONTINUES TO GROW.
FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT HOW RENEWABLE ENERGY TECH IS MADE- DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME, JACK AYLMER.
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