92% lithium recovery rate achieved as method uses natural compound

Researchers at Clausthal University of Technology in Germany have developed a method to improve lithium recovery from smelting slags—rocky byproducts of ore processing—using punicin, a natural compound derived from pomegranate leaves. By synthesizing and testing over 50 punicin derivatives, the team achieved lithium recovery rates of up to 92% through optimized flotation separation processes. Punicin’s unique chemical structure, which allows its charge state to be adjusted by pH and its properties to change under light exposure, enables selective attachment to lithium-bearing minerals, making them hydrophobic and easier to separate from unwanted materials. This advancement in lithium recycling is significant given the growing demand for lithium in batteries powering electric vehicles, smartphones, and other electronics. The researchers are also exploring punicin derivatives for recovering other lithium engineered artificial minerals (EnAMs), such as lithium manganates, as well as valuable metals like copper and tantalum. The ability to control flotation through light and pH adjustments offers greater precision in mineral separation