Chinese researchers use solar power to extract lithium from seawater - BatteryIndustry.net
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Researchers in China are developing a solar-powered technology to extract lithium from seawater, addressing the rising global demand. This innovative method could become a viable alternative as lithium prices surge, despite current high extraction costs.
  • Pika@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    2·
    2 months ago

    I love how that’s tagged “sustainable mining” as if mining anything can actually be sustainable.

    • Heliumfart@sh.itjust.works
      2·
      2 months ago

      I mean, it’s about as sustainable as you can get on earth I would imagine, there’s a huge amount of lithium in seawater. It would take an insanely long time to deplete the 180000000000 tons of lithium in sea water.

      • Pika@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        2 months ago

        yea its just using the word sustain when removing something non-renewable makes me chuckle

        • Heliumfart@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          2 months ago

          Well I would postulate, as a complete layperson, that the amount of lithium leaching out of rocks into the ocean is more per year than we could realistically extract. So in a way, it could be sustainable.