Recently, notable breakthroughs have led to the development of a sustainable method for efficiently extracting lithium from seawater, addressing the increasing demand for renewable energy.
One of them is The Solar Transpiration-Powered Lithium Extraction and Storage (STLES) device, which utilizes sunlight to extract and store lithium from brine. By using iron phosphate electrodes, which selectively capture lithium ions from saltwater, the method enables the release of lithium into fresh water.
The approach is seen as a cleaner alternative to traditional lithium mining, which typically involves harmful chemical processes and significant land disruption, supporting claims that seawater extraction could offer a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.