Recovery of Lithium from Geothermal Brines
A cost-effective integrated process for the recovery of lithium from geothermal brines.
SRI International
Recipient
Menlo Park, CA
Recipient Location
13th
Senate District
24th
Assembly District
$873,387
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
The project successfully demonstrated the laboratory-scale Integrated Lithium Capture System. The recipient has licensed the technology to ExSorbtion, Inc. who will be pursuing commercialization.
The Issue
Expansion of geothermal energy production in California will greatly benefit from the creation of a value stream produced by the recovery of useful metals from geothermal fluids. The efficient separation of metals, such as lithium, from geothermal brines promises to make the production of geothermal power more economically favorable. Revenue will be produced from the sale of the marketable metals, and the scaling and re-injection issues associated with the high-solid-content brines will be minimized.
Project Innovation
This project demonstrated a cost-effective integrated process for the recovery of lithium from geothermal brines based on: (1) new high-capacity selective composite sorbents comprised of inorganic lithium-ion sieves and lithium-ion-imprinted polymers; and (2) a new sorbent regeneration process using eco-friendly carbon dioxide/carbonic acid that leads to the direct formation of high-purity lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). Compared to traditional methods of Li recovery from brines, the high-capacity selective sorbents and their regeneration process are expected to lower the cost of Li production by enabling online separation with higher recovery efficiency, using smaller volumes of sorbents, and minimizing processing time. The project demonstrated a laboratory-scale integrated separation process for the production of high-purity Li2CO3 from geothermal brines.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
This project will lead to technological advancement by enabling co-production of power and high-value metals from geothermal resources. The co-production of metals will improve the economic viability of geothermal power production, therefore increasing the penetration of geothermal renewable energy.

Affordability
The technology will lower the cost of geothermal energy production as a result of recovery of lithium from geothermal fluids. Co-production of lithium carbonate can offset $30/MWh from the cost of geothermal energy production.

Economic Development
According to a 2008 feasibility study sponsored by Imperial Irrigation District, developing geothermal resources in Imperial County could result in 7,000-9,000 new jobs, many likely higher paying than typical for the region.

Environmental Sustainability
The process is much more environmentally friendly than conventional methods to produce lithium.
Key Project Members
