{"id":32933,"date":"2023-07-13T15:30:15","date_gmt":"2023-07-13T14:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=32933"},"modified":"2023-07-13T15:45:05","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T14:45:05","slug":"xtralit-cleaner-cost-effective-and-more-efficient-lithium-extraction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/xtralit-cleaner-cost-effective-and-more-efficient-lithium-extraction\/32933\/","title":{"rendered":"XtraLit: Cleaner, cost-effective, and more efficient lithium extraction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Professor Simon Litsyn, CEO of XtraLit Ltd<\/a>, discusses the problems associated with traditional lithium extraction methods and explains how the company\u2019s Direct Lithium Extraction technology can mitigate these challenges.<\/h2>\n

Lithium extraction from brines with low concentrations<\/h3>\n

Problem: In the revolutionary era of the green energy transition, a significant increase in the production of electric batteries is required. Modern battery technology is mainly based on the use of lithium. A substantial part of the lithium extraction is currently done by long-term evaporation of salt water with a high concentration (more than 1 g\/l) of this element. Such water sources are limited and cannot meet the demand for the required amount of lithium. Without the introduction of new technologies, by 2030 the demand for lithium will be met by less than half. In addition, the existing technologies are extremely ecologically harmful.<\/p>\n

Solution:<\/strong> XtraLit has developed revolutionary innovative technology for direct extraction of lithium from aqueous sources with medium and low concentrations (up to 500 mg\/l). It is based on using a proprietary patented sorbent in ion exchange.<\/p>\n

Compared to other technologies, the method has a significantly higher selectivity to lithium \u2013 an increase in the concentration of lithium in the brine by two-three orders of magnitude along with a similar drop in the concentrations of other elements, as well as increased capacity and durability of the sorbent.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the technology provides a unique solution for lithium extraction from brines with very low concentrations (5-100 mg\/l). The use of XtraLit technology allows for the significant expansion of the available resources for extraction, including salt lakes, technical brines accompanying the oil extraction, and geothermal waters.<\/p>\n

The technology is protected by patents, has been tested and is in the stage of pilot testing. Production of up to a ton of sorbent per year has been established. Estimation of the cost of extracting a ton of lithium carbonate by our method (without capital investments) is less than $4,000 per ton of lithium carbonate.<\/p>\n

Abundance of lithium<\/h3>\n

There is plenty of lithium in nature. The world\u2019s oceans contain an estimated 180 billion tons of lithium. But it is diluted, present at roughly 0.2 parts per million (ppm). Unfortunately, there is currently no technology for economically justified lithium extraction from such low concentrated sources. However, development of technologies allowing for the production of lithium from relatively low concentrations could expand our ability to cover the industrial needs in this chemical element.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 shutterstock\/Matyas Rehak<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Direct Lithium Extraction processes<\/h3>\n

The traditionally used processes for lithium extraction are based either on hard-rock mining (mainly in Australia) or natural brine evaporation (mainly in South America). Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) uses an alternative process that involves a highly selective absorbent to extract lithium from brine water. The solution extracted from the brine water is then polished of impurities to yield high-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide.<\/p>\n

Reasons for exploration and development of low-concentration lithium brines with DLE include:<\/p>\n