IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2024i1p160-d1555443.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pathways to Greener Primary Lithium Extraction for a Really Sustainable Energy Transition: Environmental Challenges and Pioneering Innovations

Author

Listed:
  • Marcello Ruberti

    (Department of Economic Sciences, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

Abstract

The rapid increase in lithium demand has recently drawn attention to the environmental impacts of conventional mining processes. Pyrometallurgical extraction from hard rock is associated with high energy consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and land degradation. Extraction from brines involves the depletion of water resources and risks to local ecosystems. In response to these environmental challenges, this study explores innovative pathways for more sustainable primary lithium extraction for a truly green energy transition across the entire supply chain. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of novel technologies designed to mitigate these impacts, with particular emphasis on direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies, which offer promising solutions for water savings, CO 2 e emissions reduction, and improved lithium recovery. A comprehensive review of the scientific literature, along with an analysis of data and information from various pilot projects and demonstration plants, have been conducted. The main conclusion is that, despite considerable efforts by mining companies, two primary obstacles remain to the implementation of novel technology: scalability and operational costs. To address these challenges, it is essential to sustain consistent investments in R&D (Research and Development) initiatives and continue testing the implementation of the most sustainable experimental practices on an industrial scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcello Ruberti, 2024. "Pathways to Greener Primary Lithium Extraction for a Really Sustainable Energy Transition: Environmental Challenges and Pioneering Innovations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-46, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2024:i:1:p:160-:d:1555443
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/1/160/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/1/160/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dang, Vi-Duong & Steinberg, Meyer, 1978. "Preliminary design and analysis of recovery of lithium from brine with the use of a selective extractant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 3(3), pages 325-336.
    2. 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.
    3. Philip Maxwell & Mauricio Mora, 2020. "Lithium and Chile: looking back and looking forward," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 33(1), pages 57-71, July.
    4. Nagaraj Nandihalli & Rajiv K. Chouhan & Rambabu Kuchi & Ihor Z. Hlova, 2024. "Aspects of Spodumene Lithium Extraction Techniques," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-39, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guzmán, Juan Ignacio & Karpunina, Alina & Araya, Constanza & Faúndez, Patricio & Bocchetto, Marcela & Camacho, Rodolfo & Desormeaux, Daniela & Galaz, Juanita & Garcés, Ingrid & Kracht, Willy & Lagos, , 2023. "Chile: On the road to global sustainable mining," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    2. Rafael C. Neto & Camila M. Bandeira & Gustavo M. S. Azevedo & Leonardo R. Limongi & Márcio R. S. de Carvalho & José F. C. Castro & Pedro A. C. Rosas & Augusto C. Venerando & Newmar Spader & Emilio Bue, 2024. "Mobile Charging Stations: A Comprehensive Review of Converter Topologies and Market Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-38, November.
    3. Rabia Khatoon & Ratchaprapa Raksasat & Yeek Chia Ho & Jun Wei Lim & Khairulazhar Jumbri & Chii-Dong Ho & Yi Jing Chan & Eman Alaaeldin Abdelfattah & Kuan Shiong Khoo, 2023. "Reviewing Advanced Treatment of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Oilfield-Produced Water with Recovery of Lithium," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-29, November.
    4. E. Petavratzi & D. Sanchez-Lopez & A. Hughes & J. Stacey & J. Ford & A. Butcher, 2022. "The impacts of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in achieving sustainable lithium supply in the Lithium Triangle," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 35(3), pages 673-699, December.
    5. Ibarra-Gutiérrez, Sebastián & Bouchard, Jocelyn & Laflamme, Marcel & Fytas, Konstantinos, 2021. "Assessing the potential of quebec lithium industry: Mineral reserves, lithium-ion batteries production and greenhouse gas emissions," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2024:i:1:p:160-:d:1555443. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.