As the global push toward sustainable energy gains momentum, the role of lithium-ion batteries as vital components in electrification and energy storage systems has become indisputable, accelerating demand for the silvery-white alkali metal with atomic number 3.
The insatiable demand for lithium ignited a remarkable tripling of global production between 2010 and 2020, and this upward trend shows no sign of slowing, with estimates pointing toward a staggering 40-fold expansion by 2050.1
This surge in demand places the industry under immense pressure to advance extraction methods. One of the most promising emerging technologies in lithium extraction is direct lithium extraction (DLE).
This article focuses on the importance of lithium-selective sorbents (LSS) in DLE, such as lithium bayerite and lithium titanate. It highlights Saint-Gobain Ceramics as a pioneer in this innovative approach.
Conventional Methods and the Promise of DLE
Traditional methods for lithium extraction primarily involve evaporating continental brine pools using solar energy and extracting lithium from hard-rock ores. Continental brine deposits, particularly in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, are four times more abundant than hard-rock ores.
However, these conventional evaporative methods have faced criticism due to their substantial water consumption in regions with limited freshwater resources.
These methods rely on extensive land use and specific climatic conditions. Evaporative processes suffer drawbacks, such as slow production rates, limited scalability, and inefficiency in processing lower-concentration lithium brine sources.1,2
DLE has emerged as a credible alternative to traditional lithium extraction techniques, offering advantages over conventional methods through various technologies, including electrochemical and thermal processes.
These advantages include increased throughput and enhanced efficiency in meeting the growing demand for lithium.1
The Role of Lithium Selective Sorbents (LSS)
Among the array of lithium extraction methods, sorption, and ion exchange are considered the most promising.3 At the heart of these approaches are lithium-selective sorbents (LSS), also referred to as "resin" or "adsorbents."
LSS enables the selective separation of lithium in solution, with Saint-Gobain Ceramics, a leading manufacturer, producing two significant LSS: lithium bayerite and lithium titanate.
Lithium Bayerite: An Absorption Elution Mechanism
Lithium Bayerite is employed in an absorption-elution process crafted for lithium recovery. The adsorbent particles of Lithium Bayerite, developed by Saint-Gobain Ceramics, comprise double-layered hydroxides capable of lithium-ion exchange.
These adsorbent particles play a pivotal role in the absorption-elution mechanism of DLE. Typically, the sorbent is packed within a column. When brine interacts with the sorbent, it selectively captures and concentrates lithium ions.4,5
The absorbed lithium ions are subsequently eluted from the sorbent, regenerating it for reuse. This technique allows for lithium's effectual separation and concentration, constituting a crucial step in the DLE process.
Lithium Titanate: An Ion Exchange Mechanism
Lithium titanate (LTO) is crucial in an ion exchange DLE process. When LTO is exposed to acid, such as hydrochloric acid, its lithium ions are released and substituted with hydrogen cations.
This process is known as delithiation. After delithiation, the LTO sorbent can be employed to extract and concentrate lithium ions from the brine source.
Saint-Gobain Ceramics: Pioneering Domestic Manufacturing Capability
Saint-Gobain Ceramics is a leading participant in the DLE revolution due to its domestic manufacturing capability for lithium-selective sorbents.
With a present manufacturing base, the company enjoys a significant advantage in production efficacy and supply chain management, allowing it to tailor sorbents according to specific requirements.
This implies that the company can quickly scale to meet the increasing demand for lithium extraction technologies.7
Customization Capabilities and Performance
Saint-Gobain Ceramics specializes in crafting and shaping sorbents with expert precision. Its range of sorbents offers notable advantages, including high capacity, rapid kinetics, and robust strength.
This outstanding performance reduces operational expenses and enables more efficient lithium extraction. At the forefront of the company’s offerings, the Lithium Selective Sorbents (LSS) outshine the competition with innovative shapes meticulously designed to optimize lithium extraction outcomes.
Guided by its steadfast commitment to sustainability, Saint-Gobain Ceramics pioneers innovation and proactively addresses potential concerns, aiming to support more sustainable extraction practices and ensure financial viability.7
Saint-Gobain Groups’ Commitment to Net-Zero 2050
Saint-Gobain seeks to provide clients with solutions that enhance decarbonization efforts, empowering them to reduce their environmental impact. The Saint-Gobain Group's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions also signifies its fundamental mission: to create a better world for all.8
At Saint-Gobain Lithium Solutions, transparency and credibility are valued in all endeavors, recognizing the importance of offering substantial evidence for sustainability performance.
To achieve this objective, Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are conducted to gain insights into our environmental influence and identify primary contributors. The aim is to initiate eco-innovation projects that continually enhance our sustainability performance.
Direct Lithium Extraction: Powering the Future
Direct lithium extraction, relying on lithium-selective sorbents, forms the foundation of promising technologies to revolutionize the lithium extraction sector. Saint-Gobain Ceramics, leveraging its expertise in shaping, catalysis kinetics, and chemistry, has developed a range of sorbents tailored for DLE systems.
As a leader in domestic manufacturing, customization, and scalability, Saint-Gobain Ceramics is critical in advancing DLE technology, addressing environmental and techno-economic challenges while meeting the growing demand for lithium.
The successful adoption of DLE and the advancement of lithium extraction technologies will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the global energy transition, transportation electrification, and sustainable economic growth.
As we journey toward a more sustainable future, DLE offers a potential pathway to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world while preserving the environment for future generations.
References and Further Reading
- Vera ML, et al. (2023). Environmental impact of direct lithium extraction from brines. Nature Reviews Earth & Environmental. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-022-00387-5
- Szlugak J, et al. (2022). Lithium sources and their current use. Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi. https://doi.org/10.24425/gsm.2022.140613
- Reich R, et al. (2022). Lithium Extraction Techniques and the Application Potential of Different Sorbents for Lithium Recovery from Brines. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review. https://doi.org/10.1080/08827508.2022.2047041
- Adsorbent particles and methods of forming thereof [Patent]. WO2020219625A1. Available at: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2020219625A1/en
- Fries D, et al. (2022). Lithium extraction through pilot scale tests under real geothermal conditions of the Upper Rhine Graben. European Geothermal Congress 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2023.106131
- Tangkas IWCWH, et al. (2023). Synthesis of Titanium Ion Sieves and Its Application for Lithium Recovery from Artificial Indonesian Geothermal Brine. Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-023-00664-7
- Saint-Gobain Ceramics. Sorbent Solutions For Direct Lithium Extraction: Manufacturing, Performance, Stability.
- Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics and Refractories. [Online] Pursuit of Sustainability and Carbon Neutrality. Available at: https://www.ceramicsrefractories.saint-gobain.com/about-us/pursuit-sustainability (Access on 30 July 2023).
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Saint-Gobain Specialty Grains and Powders.
For more information on this source, please visit Saint-Gobain Specialty Grains and Powders.