As the lightest metal and least-dense solid element on Earth, lithium possesses a unique set of physical and chemical characteristics that makes it the indispensable material of lithium-ion-battery technology. Consequently, lithium is projected to experience the most rapid growth in value of any critical mineral, outpacing other key metals such as copper, nickel, graphite, manganese, and rare earths. This paper explores the development of direct-lithium-extraction (DLE) technologies designed to recover lithium from unconventional feedstocks.
DLE From Unconventional Resources
As the ecological limitations of traditional lithium production become more apparent, the industry is pivoting toward more-sustainable practices. Central to this shift is the development of DLE technologies.
