Enough for a dozen years: a giant source of lithium was found in the USA

Scientists from the National Energy Technology Laboratory and the University of Pittsburgh found that wastewater, which is produced as a result of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Marcellus shale Pennsylvania Shale can be a rich source of lithium.

According to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, 38 to 40% of US lithium needs can be extracted from this wastewater. This could help the country become self-sufficient in lithium by 2030, as the Biden administration seeks.

Lithium is a vital metal for the production of batteries used in electric cars, smartphones and other electronic devices. Currently, most of the lithium in the world is extracted from salt ponds in Chile and then processed in China.

The extraction of lithium using traditional methods can have a negative impact on the environment, so the search for alternative sources of this metal is extremely urgent.

The technology described in the study allows lithium to be extracted from wastewater with an efficiency of more than 90%. This makes it potentially more ecologically clean and economically profitable.