Understanding the Environmental Impact of Lithium Mining

This latest review article published by Nature Magazine is a treasure trove of information pertaining to #lithium extraction strategies for various applications; including produced water. The science here is fascinating and we're extremely fortunate to having a growing number of extremely intelligent folks pursuing this initiative in the energy sector. I will be covering this and other forms of #valorization at the forthcoming Produced Water Society Conference in February. Brian Mueller Erika Simons Jay Keener Peter Belov Bonnie Milne-Andrews Jerri Pohl Steve Coffee Ben Samuels Michael Grossman Lisa Henthorne Jonna D Smoot Laura Capper Ivan Morales, MBA Rajendra Ghimire Morris Hoagland Ramón Antonio Sánchez Rosario New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium Texas Produced Water Consortium Infinity Water Solutions Michael Dyson Ashley Kegley-Whitehead Whitney Dobson Jordan Kramer Chris Caudill #water #energy #environment "In the quest for environmental sustainability, the rising demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies has substantially increased the need for efficient lithium extraction methods. Traditional lithium production, relying on geographically concentrated hard-rock ores and salar brines, is associated with considerable energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, groundwater depletion and land disturbance, thereby posing notable environmental and supply chain challenges. On the other hand, low-quality brines—such as those found in sedimentary waters, geothermal fluids, oilfield-produced waters, seawater and some salar brines and salt lakes—hold large potential owing to their extensive reserves and widespread geographical distribution. However, extracting lithium from these sources presents technical challenges owing to low lithium concentrations and high magnesium-to-lithium ratios. This Review explores the latest advances and continuing challenges in lithium extraction from these demanding yet promising sources, covering a variety of methods, including precipitation, solvent extraction, sorption, membrane-based separation and electrochemical-based separation. Furthermore, we share perspectives on the future development of lithium extraction technologies, framed within the basic principles of separation processes. The aim is to encourage the development of innovative extraction methods capable of making use of the substantial potential of low-quality brines." https://lnkd.in/g6eMxAiW

This is where the #EV transition rubber meets the road. Down the mountain and 100 miles from where I live lies a large lithium deposit that the company, Piedmont Lithium, intends to mine. Understandably, the citizens of Gaston County are concerned that the open pit mine operation will cause irreparable harm to the environment, public health, and property values. As a proponent of rapidly expanding the clean energy economy to combat climate change, strengthen national security, and reduce the health impacts of fossil fuel emissions, I ask myself, "How would I feel if a lithium mine opened in my backyard?" I struggle with the answer. Onshoring the #cleanenergy supply chain, from mining to manufacturing, is critical to ensure America's access to the materials and technologies needed to transition away from burning fossil fuels, which, if we don't do quickly, we will be dealing with the economic and humanitarian consequences of more frequent and severe heat, storms, fires, floods, and freezes because global warming creates wacky weather. The current boom in the domestic clean energy economy is writing another chapter in the age-old balancing act between local impact and national need. America's track record is not good. Our industrious country has used 'for the good of the nation' as justification for things like stealing Native American lands for natural resources, blowing up Appalachian mountains for coal, and razing Black communities for the interstate highway system. If you lived on those tribal lands, in those Appalachian valleys, or those Black neighborhoods, your experience of American progress differed greatly from those of us who benefited without paying those direct and very personal costs. I support Gaston County residents advocating for their health and well-being and questioning the trustworthiness of Piedmont Lithium and the regulatory process that will or will not grant it the permits and variances it seeks. And I recognize the need for lithium to make the batteries in the EV I drive and the need for a lot more of it as consumers and fleet operators make the climate-urgent switch to electric cars, trucks, and buses. With the clean energy transition, I hope that our regulatory processes center impacted communities and ensure they are protected and benefit from industrial operations in their backyards. There are existing tools, such as Community Benefits Agreements, that can be used. Still, it will take authentic community engagement upfront and regulatory enforcement on the back end to balance the global need to reduce carbon emissions with the national need for supply chain security, the corporate need for profits, and the local need for quality of life. #electricvehicles #transportation #batteries #mining #lithium #economicdevelopment #supplychain #climatechange #publichealth #sustainability

The dark side of our rapid EV adoption. Lithium extraction. (also Cobalt). The truth is any sort of resource extraction is harmful to the planet. Removing these raw materials results in soil degradation, water shortages, biodiversity loss, damage to ecosystems and increase in global warming. If we are real about our climate impact, we can do better. Most people are not paying attention to Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), it's a technology to look out for commercialization in the coming years. Equinor is one of the first major O&G producers to have made significant investment in DLE projects in the US.  https://lnkd.in/gpeZqaqd DLE involves solvent extraction, membranes, and other techniques that help in the extraction of lithium directly from the source and refining it. DLE can drastically reduce water use by two orders of magnitude. It can also reduce production times, from several months to hours. And it could extract more than 90% of the lithium , enabling the production of lithium out of the so-called unconventional brines. DLE is one climate tech space that has not attracted much Venture Capital. My guess is that this is going to change in the coming years. #climatetech #VC #venturecapital #directlithiumextraction #lithium #EV Photo: Lithium Fiels in the Salar de Atacama salt flats in northern Chile.

Can We Make Lithium Extraction from Hard Rock Cleaner and More Cost-Effective? Everything around us is going electric. At the core of this electrification? Batteries. And what's at the heart of these batteries? Lithium. Currently, we extract lithium primarily through two methods: hard rock mining of spodumene and brine water evaporation. Both are crucial, but they come with their unique sets of challenges and environmental footprints. Challenges in Lithium Extraction Lithium extraction faces diverse issues. Brine sources have low lithium concentrations, while hard rock mining offers limited battery-grade yields. Operational costs are high for brine extraction, and labor costs heavily impact hard rock mining. Geopolitical issues complicate matters further. The environmental impact is significant, with substantial energy use, carbon emissions, and water concerns, notably in brine methods. Additionally, supply chain challenges arise from China's dominant processing capacity and difficulties in localizing production. Innovative, sustainable solutions are essential to tackle these challenges. Future of Lithium Extraction: Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) This emerging technology selectively removes lithium compounds from lithium brines, offering a more efficient recovery process compared to traditional brine extraction methods. Similar technology is being developed for hard rock lithium resources, focusing on improving extraction efficiency and reducing carbon footprint. Novalith leads with its LiCAL technology. Their method simplifies the process, moving away from the traditional use of strong acids or bases. By using CO2 from industrial sources, they directly extract and convert lithium into battery-grade lithium carbonate. The use of CO2 not only makes their process more cost-effective compared to conventional methods but also ensures a smaller footprint, resulting in low-carbon and environmentally sustainable lithium production. However, challenges remain in scaling this technology, ensuring its economic viability, and overcoming technical complexities. How do you see this innovation reshaping the battery industry? Let's discuss this in the comments! --- I research and simplify climate change, energy, and decarbonization topics. If you find these insights valuable and informative, follow me, Lalit Patidar, for more content like this. Source: Novalith #lithium #mining #energy #batteries #electrification #emissions #sustainability