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.
