Rice University Develops Efficient Lithium Extraction Reactor

The new electrochemical reactor offers a safer and more effective method for extracting lithium from geothermal brines.

Researchers at Rice University have created a novel three-chamber electrochemical reactor to improve lithium extraction from natural brine solutions.
The reactor uses a lithium-ion conductive glass ceramic (LICGC) membrane to selectively allow lithium ions to pass while blocking others, achieving a 97.5% purity rate.
This innovation addresses the growing demand for lithium in rechargeable batteries, crucial for renewable energy storage and electric vehicles.
The design significantly reduces the production of hazardous chlorine gas, making the process environmentally safer compared to traditional methods.
Challenges remain with sodium ion buildup on the membrane, but strategies to mitigate this issue are being explored, including surface coatings and current adjustments.