Pennsylvania Could Provide 40% of US Lithium Needs from an Unexpected Source

As electric vehicles and other battery technologies continue to rise, researchers anticipate a surge in the demand for lithium in the coming years. A new study identifies an unusual but significant source of this metal in a Pennsylvania wastewater stream.

As we’ve previously reported, the world will require approximately 59 new lithium mines, each producing 45,000 tonnes of the metal, by 2035 to meet current demand.

This silvery metal constitutes a crucial component of rechargeable batteries, now utilized in various applications ranging from countertop ice cube makers to freight ships.

Meeting Lithium Demand

Due to the increasing demand for lithium, researchers are developing faster methods to extract it from brine pits, a primary source alongside traditional mines. They are also exploring alternative sources.

One such source is a wastewater stream from a fracking operation near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Operators of the Marcellus shale gas wells must report certain material levels in the wastewater to regulators, including lithium.

Analyzing these reports, University of Pittsburgh researchers determined that developing a method to extract 100% of the lithium from this wastewater could potentially meet about 40% of America’s demand for the metal.

Currently, researchers can extract lithium from water with over 90% efficiency, bringing the goal within reach.

Wastewater from Fracking Operations and Marcellus Shale Sites

The wastewater from these fracking operations is particularly rich in lithium, and researchers believe other Marcellus shale sites, such as those in West Virginia, could also be valuable sources.

The U.S. Geological Survey has classified lithium as a critical mineral, and the government aims to produce all domestic lithium by 2030.

This would be more efficient than the current method of extracting lithium from brine ponds in Chile, shipping it to China for processing, and then shipping it back to the U.S. for use.

The next step in exploring wastewater streams as a lithium source involves analyzing the environmental impacts of extraction and constructing a pilot plant to develop more efficient extraction methods.

“Wastewater from oil and gas is a burgeoning issue,” says lead author Justin Mackey. “Currently, it is minimally treated and reinjected.”

To conclude, he notes that improving extraction techniques could add significant value by transforming wastewater into a valuable resource. “The water has been dissolving rocks for hundreds of millions of years – essentially, it has been mining the subsurface,” he explains.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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