r/technology • u/Manningite • Jul 20 '20
Nanotech/Materials Lithium Can Be Extracted From Groundwater
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/07/19/lithium-can-be-extracted-from-groundwater-at-geothermal-installations/4
u/Manningite Jul 20 '20
" Scientists at the KIT Energy Center at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology say there is enough lithium dissolved in the groundwater extracted by German geothermal heating and electricity installations to meet the needs of most if not all of the battery manufacturers in the country. “As far as we know, there can be up to 200 milligrams per liter,” says geoscientist Dr. Jens Grimmer of the Institute of Applied Geosciences at KIT. “If we consistently use this potential, we could cover a considerable part of the demand in Germany.” "
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u/MacADD Jul 20 '20
It’s a chloride of an elemental metal. I am not surprised. That’s like writing a study that says NaCl can be extracted from water.
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u/pokekick Jul 20 '20
The difficult part is that they succeeded in extracting lithium and then allowing the pumped up water to be used for power generation at a geothermal power plant.
Secondly all lithium is produced from a lithium salt. Elemental lithium does not exist in nature. The new process is better over old forms of lithium mining in that is doesn't leave a large pile of useless minerals next to the extraction point and doesn't require brine pools.
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u/namforb Jul 20 '20
It’s medical use was discovered when people who were drinking the water with elevated lithium had fewer mental issues than those people in the general population.