Did you know that water, which covers most of our planet, could hold the key to extracting valuable materials essential for our clean energy future?
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have been investigating how we can tap into different water sources to recover critical resources that power technologies like electric vehicles, nuclear reactors, and more.
In this article, we’ll dive into the exciting possibilities of unlocking hidden treasures in water.
Water, which makes up a significant portion of Earth’s surface, holds immense potential for valuable materials.
Oceans, wastewater, groundwater aquifers, and geothermal brines all contain trace amounts of materials like lithium, vital for electric vehicle batteries. Although these materials are present in low concentrations, their sheer volume in water makes them worth exploring.
Wastewater is often seen as something to discard, but scientists want us to view it differently.
They believe it’s a valuable resource brimming with all sorts of useful substances. By rethinking how we approach wastewater, we can unlock its potential and extract critical materials that would otherwise go to waste.
How do we extract valuable materials from water?
Researchers are employing a range of innovative methods to recover valuable materials from different water sources. Some techniques are familiar, like using membranes, while others are groundbreaking, such as interfacial solar steam generators.
These novel approaches harness the power of sunlight to accelerate evaporation, separating valuable materials from water more efficiently.
One of the challenges in recovering materials from water is the slow and energy-intensive process of evaporation. Omar Kazi, a Ph.D. student, is working on speeding up this process by using porous photothermal materials. These materials absorb light and convert it into heat, significantly accelerating evaporation. This innovation could help concentrate wastewater streams and unlock their hidden value.
Argonne National Laboratory possesses extensive expertise in analyzing supply chains, life cycles, and technoeconomic factors.
They specialize in materials, chemistry, and process engineering, making them uniquely positioned to drive the development of a secure and circular economy of materials. Their research aims to maximize the potential of water streams as a valuable resource.
Water, often taken for granted, holds tremendous potential as a source of valuable materials critical for clean energy technologies. Scientists are exploring various water sources, including oceans, wastewater, groundwater, and geothermal brines, to extract materials like lithium.
By adopting innovative techniques such as interfacial solar steam generators and porous photothermal materials, we can tap into the hidden treasures of water. With ongoing research at the forefront, a more sustainable and resourceful future is within reach.
A paper based on the study, “Material design strategies for recovery of critical resources from water,” was published in Advanced Materials.
