New clay membrane tech can extract lithium straight from water

Source: interestingengineering
Author: @IntEngineering
Published: 7/8/2025
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Read original articleResearchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago have developed a novel, low-cost membrane technology capable of efficiently extracting lithium directly from saltwater. This membrane is made from vermiculite, a naturally abundant and inexpensive clay, which is processed into ultrathin two-dimensional sheets. To stabilize these sheets in water, the team introduced microscopic aluminum oxide pillars that maintain the membrane’s structure and enable selective ion filtration based on size and charge. By doping the membrane with sodium ions, it gains a positive surface charge that repels magnesium ions more strongly than lithium ions, allowing for effective separation of lithium from chemically similar elements.
This breakthrough offers a scalable alternative to traditional lithium mining, which is costly, slow, and geographically concentrated, by tapping into the vast lithium reserves dissolved in seawater, underground brines, and wastewater. The membrane’s ability to selectively filter lithium with high precision could reduce dependence on foreign lithium suppliers and unlock new domestic sources. Beyond lithium, the
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materialsenergylithium-extractionmembrane-technology2D-materialssustainable-miningwater-filtration