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An international research team, with researchers from Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ��, ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� College London and Johannes Gutenberg ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� Mainz, unraveled an unusual extraction mechanism for lithium using iron oxides. Particularly in the context of the energy transition, the demand for lithium, used for lithium-ion batteries, is high and continues to grow. The results of this study, published in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, illuminates mechanisms that may be useful for future industrial lithium extraction.

Lithium holds great economic, societal, and scientific significance. Xu Zhang, geoscientist at Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� and first author of the scientific paper, explains: “The widespread use of lithium-ion batteries results in a high demand for lithium resources. These batteries can be found in daily life objects like smart phones, electric vehicles or home batteries. Scientifically, lithium is also a fascinating element for geochemical studies. The lithium isotope system has proven to be a robust proxy for studying water-rock interactions, soil formations, and chemical weathering. It can be used to investigate climate change, seawater evolution, and the impact of human activities on the Earth.”

Extraction using iron oxides

In nature, lithium is enriched in clay minerals, and some researchers are exploring ways to extract geothermal lithium using clay minerals. A long-overlooked issue is how lithium interacts with iron oxides, which are widely present in nature. An international research team from Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ��, ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� College London (UK) and Johannes Gutenberg ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� Mainz (Germany), has investigated this question. Zhang and his colleagues found that mineral crystallinity plays a crucial role. “For the same mineral, the iron oxide is more reactive in its poorly crystalline, or "teenager", state than in its well-crystallized, or "adult", phase”, Zhang explains. “During the interaction between lithium and iron oxides, lithium is not taken up by well-crystallized iron oxides, whereas poorly crystallized goethite nanoparticles can extract ~90% of lithium in highly alkaline conditions.”

Implications

This finding has multiple levels of importance. Zhang: “First of all, it illuminates mechanisms for future industrial lithium extraction, including which mineral to select, their crystalline state, and the ideal extraction conditions. Given the widespread availability of iron oxides and the well-established methods for their synthesis, it would be worthwhile to explore whether this extraction method also offers greater cost efficiency. Second, this study highlights the pivotal role of mineral crystallization in shaping rock-water reactions and offer insights into iron rich environments such as tropic soils.”

This study is supported by different state-of art techniques, including electronic microscopy at UU Electronic Microscopy Centre and isotope analysis from UCL London. The results are published in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry. Funding for the study was acquired through the NWO Open Competition grant number  OCENW.M20.156

Atricle

Coupling of Li–Fe: Li Isotope Fractionation during Sorption onto Fe-Oxides, Xu Yvon Zhang, David J. Wilson, Maartje F. Hamers, Philip A. E. Pogge von Strandmann, Oliver Plümper, and Helen E. King, ACS Earth and Space Chemistry Article ASAP, DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.4c00205