Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing

Autores
Flexer, Victoria; Baspineiro, Celso Fernando; Galli, Claudia Inés
Año de publicación
2018
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
The electrification of our world is driving a strong increase in demand for lithium. Energy storage is paramount in electric and hybrid vehicles, in green but intermittent energy sources, and in smart grids in general. Lithium is a vital raw material for the build-up of both currently available lithium-ion batteries, and prospective next generation batteries such as lithium-air and lithium sulphur. The continued availability of lithium can only rely on a strong increase of mining and ore processing. It would be an inconsistency if the increased production of lithium for a more sustainable society would be associated with non-sustainable mining practices. Currently 2/3 of the world production of lithium is extracted from brines, a practice that evaporates on average half a million litres of brine per ton of lithium carbonate. Furthermore, the extraction is chemical intensive, extremely slow, and delivers large volumes of waste. This technology is heavily dependent on the geological structure of the deposits, brine chemical composition and both climate and weather conditions. Therefore, it is difficult to adapt from one successful exploitation to new deposits. A few years of simulations and piloting are needed before large scale production is achieved. Consequently, this technology is struggling with the current surge in demand. At time of writing, only 5 industrial scale facilities are in operation worldwide, highlighting the shortcomings in this technology. Both mining companies and academics are intensively searching for new technologies for lithium recovery from brines. However, focus on the chemistry of brine processing has left unattended the analysis of the sustainability of the overall process. Here we review both the current available technology and new proposed methodologies. We make a special focus on an overall sustainability analysis, with particular emphasis to the geological characteristics of deposits and water usage in relation to mining processes.
Fil: Flexer, Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy; Argentina
Fil: Baspineiro, Celso Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy; Argentina
Fil: Galli, Claudia Inés. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina
Materia
AQUIFER
BATTERIES
BRINE DEPOSITS
LITHIUM
MAGNESIUM
SUSTAINABLE MINING
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/91034
Acceder
id CONICETDig_8d34b6a712e3bd4163f664262fcae5ce
oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/91034
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processingFlexer, VictoriaBaspineiro, Celso FernandoGalli, Claudia InésAQUIFERBATTERIESBRINE DEPOSITSLITHIUMMAGNESIUMSUSTAINABLE MININGhttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.4https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1The electrification of our world is driving a strong increase in demand for lithium. Energy storage is paramount in electric and hybrid vehicles, in green but intermittent energy sources, and in smart grids in general. Lithium is a vital raw material for the build-up of both currently available lithium-ion batteries, and prospective next generation batteries such as lithium-air and lithium sulphur. The continued availability of lithium can only rely on a strong increase of mining and ore processing. It would be an inconsistency if the increased production of lithium for a more sustainable society would be associated with non-sustainable mining practices. Currently 2/3 of the world production of lithium is extracted from brines, a practice that evaporates on average half a million litres of brine per ton of lithium carbonate. Furthermore, the extraction is chemical intensive, extremely slow, and delivers large volumes of waste. This technology is heavily dependent on the geological structure of the deposits, brine chemical composition and both climate and weather conditions. Therefore, it is difficult to adapt from one successful exploitation to new deposits. A few years of simulations and piloting are needed before large scale production is achieved. Consequently, this technology is struggling with the current surge in demand. At time of writing, only 5 industrial scale facilities are in operation worldwide, highlighting the shortcomings in this technology. Both mining companies and academics are intensively searching for new technologies for lithium recovery from brines. However, focus on the chemistry of brine processing has left unattended the analysis of the sustainability of the overall process. Here we review both the current available technology and new proposed methodologies. We make a special focus on an overall sustainability analysis, with particular emphasis to the geological characteristics of deposits and water usage in relation to mining processes.Fil: Flexer, Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy; ArgentinaFil: Baspineiro, Celso Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy; ArgentinaFil: Galli, Claudia Inés. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaElsevier2018-10info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/91034Flexer, Victoria; Baspineiro, Celso Fernando; Galli, Claudia Inés; Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing; Elsevier; Science of the Total Environment; 639; 10-2018; 1188-12040048-9697CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718318746info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.223info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-09-29T09:35:01Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/91034instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-09-29 09:35:02.155CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing
title Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing
spellingShingle Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing
Flexer, Victoria
AQUIFER
BATTERIES
BRINE DEPOSITS
LITHIUM
MAGNESIUM
SUSTAINABLE MINING
title_short Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing
title_full Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing
title_fullStr Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing
title_full_unstemmed Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing
title_sort Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Flexer, Victoria
Baspineiro, Celso Fernando
Galli, Claudia Inés
author Flexer, Victoria
author_facet Flexer, Victoria
Baspineiro, Celso Fernando
Galli, Claudia Inés
author_role author
author2 Baspineiro, Celso Fernando
Galli, Claudia Inés
author2_role author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv AQUIFER
BATTERIES
BRINE DEPOSITS
LITHIUM
MAGNESIUM
SUSTAINABLE MINING
topic AQUIFER
BATTERIES
BRINE DEPOSITS
LITHIUM
MAGNESIUM
SUSTAINABLE MINING
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.4
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv The electrification of our world is driving a strong increase in demand for lithium. Energy storage is paramount in electric and hybrid vehicles, in green but intermittent energy sources, and in smart grids in general. Lithium is a vital raw material for the build-up of both currently available lithium-ion batteries, and prospective next generation batteries such as lithium-air and lithium sulphur. The continued availability of lithium can only rely on a strong increase of mining and ore processing. It would be an inconsistency if the increased production of lithium for a more sustainable society would be associated with non-sustainable mining practices. Currently 2/3 of the world production of lithium is extracted from brines, a practice that evaporates on average half a million litres of brine per ton of lithium carbonate. Furthermore, the extraction is chemical intensive, extremely slow, and delivers large volumes of waste. This technology is heavily dependent on the geological structure of the deposits, brine chemical composition and both climate and weather conditions. Therefore, it is difficult to adapt from one successful exploitation to new deposits. A few years of simulations and piloting are needed before large scale production is achieved. Consequently, this technology is struggling with the current surge in demand. At time of writing, only 5 industrial scale facilities are in operation worldwide, highlighting the shortcomings in this technology. Both mining companies and academics are intensively searching for new technologies for lithium recovery from brines. However, focus on the chemistry of brine processing has left unattended the analysis of the sustainability of the overall process. Here we review both the current available technology and new proposed methodologies. We make a special focus on an overall sustainability analysis, with particular emphasis to the geological characteristics of deposits and water usage in relation to mining processes.
Fil: Flexer, Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy; Argentina
Fil: Baspineiro, Celso Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy; Argentina
Fil: Galli, Claudia Inés. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina
description The electrification of our world is driving a strong increase in demand for lithium. Energy storage is paramount in electric and hybrid vehicles, in green but intermittent energy sources, and in smart grids in general. Lithium is a vital raw material for the build-up of both currently available lithium-ion batteries, and prospective next generation batteries such as lithium-air and lithium sulphur. The continued availability of lithium can only rely on a strong increase of mining and ore processing. It would be an inconsistency if the increased production of lithium for a more sustainable society would be associated with non-sustainable mining practices. Currently 2/3 of the world production of lithium is extracted from brines, a practice that evaporates on average half a million litres of brine per ton of lithium carbonate. Furthermore, the extraction is chemical intensive, extremely slow, and delivers large volumes of waste. This technology is heavily dependent on the geological structure of the deposits, brine chemical composition and both climate and weather conditions. Therefore, it is difficult to adapt from one successful exploitation to new deposits. A few years of simulations and piloting are needed before large scale production is achieved. Consequently, this technology is struggling with the current surge in demand. At time of writing, only 5 industrial scale facilities are in operation worldwide, highlighting the shortcomings in this technology. Both mining companies and academics are intensively searching for new technologies for lithium recovery from brines. However, focus on the chemistry of brine processing has left unattended the analysis of the sustainability of the overall process. Here we review both the current available technology and new proposed methodologies. We make a special focus on an overall sustainability analysis, with particular emphasis to the geological characteristics of deposits and water usage in relation to mining processes.
publishDate 2018
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2018-10
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/91034
Flexer, Victoria; Baspineiro, Celso Fernando; Galli, Claudia Inés; Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing; Elsevier; Science of the Total Environment; 639; 10-2018; 1188-1204
0048-9697
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/91034
identifier_str_mv Flexer, Victoria; Baspineiro, Celso Fernando; Galli, Claudia Inés; Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing; Elsevier; Science of the Total Environment; 639; 10-2018; 1188-1204
0048-9697
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718318746
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.223
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
_version_ 1844613088121192448
score 13.069144

Publicaciones similares