U.S. lithium resources from geothermal and extraction feasibility

Toba, Ange-Lionel; Nguyen, Ruby H.N.; Cole, Carson; Neupane, Ghanashyam; Paranthaman, M.

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105514

Cited by 45 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The potential “ore-forming solutions” 7 may also be considered “liquid ores” 8 . In the perspective of increasing lithium demand, groundwaters from high-enthalpy geothermal fields have recently attracted considerable attention for extracting lithium as a by-product of geothermal energy 9 (e.g. Salton Trough 10 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater in sedimentary basins as potential lithium resource: a global prospective study

Dugamin

Richard

Cathelineau

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Electric cars will require to increase the production of lithium dramatically (up to 2 Mtons lithium equivalent carbonate per year by 2030). However, conventional hard-rock and salar mining are facing environmental and social concerns. Therefore, alternative lithium resources may help meeting the global demand for the next decades. Here, we provide a systematic analysis of published lithium concentration in about 3000 samples of groundwater from 48 sedimentary basins worldwide. The highest lithium concentrations (> 102 mg l−1) are primarily found in high salinity waters (Total Dissolved Solids > 105 mg l−1) and are in the same range as brines from the most productive salars. Conservative estimations based on fluid volume and lithium concentration in selected reservoirs indicate that these lithium resources are comparable to salars and hard-rock mines (0.1–10 Mtons lithium). Therefore, lithium in groundwater from sedimentary basins could be a significant potential resource for the next decades.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater in sedimentary basins as potential lithium resource: a global prospective study

Dugamin

Richard

Cathelineau

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…Neupane and Wendt concluded that the Salton Sea field represents by far the largest potential lithium geothermal brine resource in the US, with annual potential production levels of 6 to 32 thousand tons lithium per year (equivalent to 34 to 168 thousand tons LCE) at existing brine flow rates [24]. Toba et al [36] used dynamic economic modeling and estimated that geothermal lithium production could reach approximately 70,000 metric tons LCE by 2030.…”

Section: Element or Analytementioning

confidence: 99%

Technology for the Recovery of Lithium from Geothermal Brines

2021

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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.

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“…In the last 20 years, research efforts have been put for the development of novel processes for the recovery of lithium from low-grade and unfavorable deposits as for lithium end-life waste batteries, − wastewaters from oil and gas fields, and low-lithium-content brines/bitterns. − Although Li + content in bitterns is lower than that in salty brines reserves, as it reaches values from 2–3 ppm up to 20 ppm in Egyptian bitterns, saltwork bitterns are generated every year starting from seawater and are, therefore, a more sustainable and continuous source of Li + compared to salty brines accumulated in thousands of years. In this context, the SEArcularMINE European project aims at valorizing spent bitterns produced by the traditional and still widely employed saltworks (a schematic of the SEArcularMINE-integrated treatment chain is shown in Figure a.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovery of Lithium Carbonate from Dilute Li-Rich Brine via Homogenous and Heterogeneous Precipitation

Battaglia

Berkemeyer

Cipollina

et al. 2022

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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An extensive experimental campaign on Li recovery from relatively dilute LiCl solutions (i.e., Li+ ∼ 4000 ppm) is presented to identify the best operating conditions for a Li2CO3 crystallization unit. Lithium is currently mainly produced via solar evaporation, purification, and precipitation from highly concentrated Li brines located in a few world areas. The process requires large surfaces and long times (18–24 months) to concentrate Li+ up to 20,000 ppm. The present work investigates two separation routes to extract Li+ from synthetic solutions, mimicking those obtained from low-content Li+ sources through selective Li+ separation and further concentration steps: (i) addition of Na2CO3 solution and (ii) addition of NaOH solution + CO2 insufflation. A Li recovery up to 80% and purities up to 99% at 80 °C and with high-ionic strength solutions was achieved employing NaOH solution + CO2 insufflation and an ethanol washing step.

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U.S. lithium resources from geothermal and extraction feasibility

Cited by 45 publications

References 22 publications

Groundwater in sedimentary basins as potential lithium resource: a global prospective study

Groundwater in sedimentary basins as potential lithium resource: a global prospective study

Technology for the Recovery of Lithium from Geothermal Brines

Recovery of Lithium Carbonate from Dilute Li-Rich Brine via Homogenous and Heterogeneous Precipitation

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