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Technology for the Recovery of Lithium from Geothermal Brines

Author

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  • William T. Stringfellow

    (Energy Geosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

  • Patrick F. Dobson

    (Energy Geosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

Abstract

Lithium is the principal component of high-energy-density batteries and is a critical material necessary for the economy and security of the United States. Brines from geothermal power production have been identified as a potential domestic source of lithium; however, lithium-rich geothermal brines are characterized by complex chemistry, high salinity, and high temperatures, which pose unique challenges for economic lithium extraction. The purpose of this paper is to examine and analyze direct lithium extraction technology in the context of developing sustainable lithium production from geothermal brines. In this paper, we are focused on the challenges of applying direct lithium extraction technology to geothermal brines; however, applications to other brines (such as coproduced brines from oil wells) are considered. The most technologically advanced approach for direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines is adsorption of lithium using inorganic sorbents. Other separation processes include extraction using solvents, sorption on organic resin and polymer materials, chemical precipitation, and membrane-dependent processes. The Salton Sea geothermal field in California has been identified as the most significant lithium brine resource in the US and past and present efforts to extract lithium and other minerals from Salton Sea brines were evaluated. Extraction of lithium with inorganic molecular sieve ion-exchange sorbents appears to offer the most immediate pathway for the development of economic lithium extraction and recovery from Salton Sea brines. Other promising technologies are still in early development, but may one day offer a second generation of methods for direct, selective lithium extraction. Initial studies have demonstrated that lithium extraction and recovery from geothermal brines are technically feasible, but challenges still remain in developing an economically and environmentally sustainable process at scale.

Suggested Citation

  • William T. Stringfellow & Patrick F. Dobson, 2021. "Technology for the Recovery of Lithium from Geothermal Brines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-72, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:20:p:6805-:d:659170
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Amir Razmjou & Mohsen Asadnia & Ehsan Hosseini & Asghar Habibnejad Korayem & Vicki Chen, 2019. "Design principles of ion selective nanostructured membranes for the extraction of lithium ions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Grosjean, Camille & Miranda, Pamela Herrera & Perrin, Marion & Poggi, Philippe, 2012. "Assessment of world lithium resources and consequences of their geographic distribution on the expected development of the electric vehicle industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 1735-1744.
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    Cited by:

    1. János Szanyi & Ladislaus Rybach & Hawkar A. Abdulhaq, 2023. "Geothermal Energy and Its Potential for Critical Metal Extraction—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-28, October.
    2. Ewa Knapik & Grzegorz Rotko & Marta Marszałek & Marcin Piotrowski, 2023. "Comparative Study on Lithium Recovery with Ion-Selective Adsorbents and Extractants: Results of Multi-Stage Screening Test with the Use of Brine Simulated Solutions with Increasing Complexity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Zhang, Junyan & Wei, Shuhao & Zhao, Chongbao & Zia, Sehria & Liu, Can & Deng, Tianlong & Yu, Xiaoping, 2024. "Membrane-free electrochemical extraction of lithium from geothermal water with transition metal ferrocyanide as a counter electrode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 373(C).
    4. Ewa Knapik & Grzegorz Rotko & Marta Marszałek, 2023. "Recovery of Lithium from Oilfield Brines—Current Achievements and Future Perspectives: A Mini Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-28, September.
    5. Fleming, Maxwell & Kannan, Sangita Gayatri & Eggert, Roderick, 2024. "Long-run availability of mineral resources: The dynamic case of lithium," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    6. Lucjan Sajkowski & Rose Turnbull & Karyne Rogers, 2023. "A Review of Critical Element Concentrations in High Enthalpy Geothermal Fluids in New Zealand," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-15, May.
    7. John H. T. Luong & Cang Tran & Di Ton-That, 2022. "A Paradox over Electric Vehicles, Mining of Lithium for Car Batteries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-25, October.
    8. Jenna N. Trost & Jennifer B. Dunn, 2023. "Assessing the feasibility of the Inflation Reduction Act’s EV critical mineral targets," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(6), pages 639-643, June.
    9. Valentin Goldberg & Ali Dashti & Robert Egert & Binil Benny & Thomas Kohl & Fabian Nitschke, 2023. "Challenges and Opportunities for Lithium Extraction from Geothermal Systems in Germany—Part 3: The Return of the Extraction Brine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-21, August.
    10. Schenker, Vanessa & Bayer, Peter & Oberschelp, Christopher & Pfister, Stephan, 2024. "Is lithium from geothermal brines the sustainable solution for Li-ion batteries?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    11. Lingchen Kong & Gangbin Yan & Kejia Hu & Yongchang Yu & Nicole Conte & Kevin R. Mckenzie Jr & Michael J. Wagner & Stephen G. Boyes & Hanning Chen & Chong Liu & Xitong Liu, 2025. "Electro-driven direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines to generate battery-grade lithium hydroxide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.

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