Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a new technique to pull lithium from underground brines more quickly and with less environmental harm. The approach uses a temperature-sensitive solvent and avoids the large evaporation ponds common in current production.
The method, called switchable solvent selective extraction or S3E, works by absorbing lithium and water from brines at room temperature. Heating the solvent then releases purified lithium while allowing the material to be reused. Tests showed extraction rates up to 10 times higher for lithium than for sodium and 12 times higher than for potassium.
