Selective electrochemical separation and recovery of lithium and other metals using tailored monolith electrodes

Introduction

The world is awakening to alarming environmental costs and geopolitical consequences of the ongoing Digital and Green revolution, which are replacing our reliance on fossil fuels with the one on critical raw materials (CRMs). Governments are anxiously searching for alternative sources of supply, and the importance of technology leadership in the recovery of CRMs and other valuable elements from secondary sources is evident.

Project Overview

The ELECTROmonoLITH project will develop a new technology for selective recovery of lithium and other valuable metals, including:

1. Cobalt
2. Nickel
3. Copper

This technology will be applied to complex waste streams and natural/anthropogenic brines, such as:

• Battery recycling wastewater
• E-waste leachate
• Geothermal brines

Challenges and Solutions

Long-standing challenges of electrochemically switched ion exchange include:

• Poor material stability
• Low recovery rates and capacities
• Insufficient selectivity
• High energy costs

These challenges will be addressed by developing monolith electrodes with a mass transfer-enhancing structure. These electrodes will be tailored for highly selective capture of specific metals from multi-component solutions using surface-imprinted ion-selective recognition units.

Benefits of Monolith Electrodes

Highly ordered electrode architectures with accessible active sites for metal ion cycling will provide several advantages:

• High space-time yields
• Minimized pressure drop, thus reducing hydraulic energy requirements
• Production of large volumes of high purity CRM concentrates in a more energy-efficient way

Scalability and Integration

Given the inherent modularity of electrochemical systems, the project offers:

• Scalability
• Autonomous operation
• Easy coupling to renewable energy sources

Additionally, there is potential to integrate electro-extraction of target metals with electrooxidation of organic pollutants.

Conclusion

The ELECTROmonoLITH project has the potential to provide a platform technology for both resource recovery and wastewater treatment, addressing major challenges of the water-energy nexus.