University of Chicago Develops Groundbreaking Lithium Extraction from Seawater Amid Surging Global Demand

Researchers at the University of Chicago have developed a cutting-edge method to extract lithium from seawater.

[{"selector":"#anim-15f0f1a3-a1c0-44ca-ad9c-f21cb087a1a9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.10526%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03a93bb8-36c7-4f9d-b78d-45a57839cc3c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-464ce313-935b-4ed0-ac7d-bce971fbf040","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a86b03ae-e69d-49bb-9e99-744b260a4b5d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(10.890151545188338%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - UC

The new technique uses iron phosphate particles, revolutionizing lithium sourcing from dilute liquids.

[{"selector":"#anim-9fc38e00-a767-43bb-b0ed-11cb0d44054f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.35546865506959%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-445a0684-117a-4c47-b322-dbe51ef7de63","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.93811%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d6e96f-e26b-4a86-85b6-42542aa8554e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0fc2b92-35f7-4227-9882-3c9c297f8645","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google

Amid a 27% surge in global lithium demand, this method offers a sustainable alternative to traditional mining.

[{"selector":"#anim-b66cc024-1f9a-4d03-9e7b-f06df3dd47d9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(30.064197671899596%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b18b696-ff5a-40f6-8f74-2d4af4e8f205","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.26385%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f19517c-a8ba-4457-b397-57c2a34524fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-316791e5-2283-4bcb-af85-2b776919e396","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google

Lithium is crucial for battery production; this breakthrough could significantly impact global supply chains.

[{"selector":"#anim-48c16bb9-822d-4b68-b5f7-33384d721b03 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5393d78b-72fe-4725-b667-cb34adfbe70a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.3913%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0131171-337c-45ee-924d-8a5f3d0b910b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0162692-0c05-41b2-89c3-ed6f0888764d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google

The method exploits the unique electrochemical properties of lithium for more efficient extraction.

[{"selector":"#anim-ccb1f482-2b79-4156-a936-d3357b83957f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.9324950196905%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4080d89e-3755-46d7-aeda-c6cc8fd6a938","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.93811%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e46f8303-0f42-4832-8369-77ef55015d7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b343ab79-32d9-4ccb-a497-24282facd599","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google

Iron phosphate's crystalline structure selectively isolates lithium, minimizing environmental disruption.

[{"selector":"#anim-1f8b14f2-a68b-492b-9905-bf061d40f5be [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 6.067961238287115e-7%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b6fd9f5-0ab3-4641-bdbb-6c7eb00d2f42","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.0418%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31f5bf5d-589b-4966-b8e9-b5f23482ef74","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89b9dffc-3234-4deb-b064-12eb98be7a63","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google

This innovative approach is poised to transform lithium extraction in ecological and economic terms.

[{"selector":"#anim-9bed80fc-dd47-4d0c-9553-53e06880ef3b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3fbc6424-91e1-40ac-8a90-458983b9bce5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.93811%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-801c2ad3-fe08-41f0-b13a-023a422fcb44","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcbc9a55-156d-421f-98eb-e2ec1c0af947","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google

Preliminary tests show the method's potential to enhance lithium purity while excluding sodium ions.

[{"selector":"#anim-e0523cbb-2fa2-4d45-889f-20435c41807e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 6.067961238287115e-7%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3213c34-5d72-4bd5-8c6d-50cdc2b3ff7c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.93811%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6ea0061-50d2-4cd3-92c0-a2104bb9d956","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65b7677a-af9c-4d50-a7a1-ea667ba82c53","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google

As global demand for lithium intensifies, the University of Chicago's method promises a greener future.

[{"selector":"#anim-a750b2dc-dc5c-44d4-965e-88a8557aebd6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51b87026-d6c7-4fc3-a8b8-d7eeb09fc5b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.93811%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a204681-81a9-4274-8706-140d3acdee71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7219f8e3-f20f-4f91-a78c-e91c7e50e866","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source - Google