Researchers Identify New Energy-Efficient Process for Lithium Extraction from Rocks

<p>Researchers have developed a new process for extracting lithium from rocks, as reported in the journal Science. This method is designed to be more energy-efficient than current extraction techniques, regenerates all starting chemicals, and produces byproducts that could be commercially viable.</p><p>The demand for lithium is driven by its use in lithium-ion batteries, which are produced at a scale that makes them economically competitive. While lithium is abundant, the economically viable extraction is primarily from brines found in South America, making other sources more expensive.</p>