New York (Web Desk) — With the rapid growth of electric vehicles and renewable energy projects, global demand for lithium continues to rise. However, the current process of extracting this metal is considered expensive, slow, and environmentally harmful.
In this context, researchers at Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed an advanced lithium extraction technology that could make the process faster, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly.
According to a study published in the research journal Joule, the new method has been named “Switchable Solvent Selective Extraction.” The system uses a specialized solution to directly separate lithium from underground saline water.
Researchers stated that the method proved effective even when lithium concentrations in the brine were low or mixed with other minerals that are traditionally difficult to separate.
According to the research team, experimental results showed that the new technology extracted lithium ten times more effectively than sodium and twelve times more effectively than potassium.
Experts also noted that the system is capable of efficiently separating elements such as magnesium, which are commonly found in lithium deposits and often make the extraction process more complex.
According to specialists, if this technology proves successful on an industrial scale, it could significantly reduce the cost of electric vehicles, energy-storage batteries, and clean-energy projects in the future, potentially marking a major breakthrough in the energy sector.