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A crucial breakthrough for clean energy! Scientists have developed a sustainable lithium extraction method that dramatically reduces CO₂ emissions
The growing demand for lithium, essential for batteries in electronic devices and electric vehicles, is driving the search for more sustainable extraction methods. Recently, researchers at Penn State developed an innovative technique that uses electric current and hydrogen peroxide to extract lithium from spodumene, a common mineral.
This new method can reduce CO₂ emissions by 75,3% and extraction costs by 35,6%, making it a promising alternative to traditional processes, which are highly polluting and energy-intensive.
The problem with traditional Lithium extraction
Currently, lithium is extracted through two main routes: evaporation of brines and mining of rocks.
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Brine extraction accounts for about 70% of global production and relies on the evaporation of large salt solution ponds, a time-consuming and environmentally hazardous process. harmful. Removing lithium from the soil can make the area barren, making it impossible for vegetation to grow.
The rock-based method involves high temperatures, which can reach 1.100 °C, and the use of aggressive chemicals, such as strong acids. This process consumes a lot of energy, in addition to generating operational risks and considerable environmental impacts.
The new electrochemical method
Faced with these challenges, the team led by Feifei Shi, assistant professor of energy engineering at Penn State, developed an innovative method based on applying an electric field to spodumene.
This approach allows the electrochemical leaching of lithium, i.e. its dissolution without the need for high temperatures or aggressive chemical agents.
In initial tests, the method showed an efficiency of 92,2%, comparable to traditional techniques, but with lower energy consumption and less environmental impact.
A key factor in this improvement was the use of hydrogen peroxide, which facilitated leaching by reducing the chemical barriers to the reaction.
Benefits and impacts
With this, the new method promises to significantly reduce the costs and environmental impacts of lithium extraction.
According to Zhen Lei, professor of energy and environmental economics at Penn State, the cost reduction is mainly due to the reduced need for chemicals and the energy efficiency of the process, which uses only electricity, unlike conventional methods that rely on electricity and natural gas.
Another crucial factor is the scalability of the new technology. While brine extraction is limited by the area of the evaporation ponds, the electrochemical method can be scaled up more effectively by simply increasing the amount of spodumene processed and the electrical current applied.
Future perspectives
The research paves the way for the creation of new solutions that could make lithium mining more sustainable and viable on a large scale.
The next step, according to the researchers, is to develop a method to selectively recover the extracted lithium in the form of lithium chloride or lithium hydroxide, essential products for the battery industry.
For Feifei Shi, this technology could revolutionize mining, becoming a model for the application of electrochemical processes in the extraction of other minerals. “We really think this is a revolution. Electrochemistry will open doors to a lot of interesting research in the mining and mineral processing sector.“He said.
Study published in the journal Nature.
