RECLAIM: Electrochemical Lithium and Nickel Extraction with Concurrent Carbon Dioxide Mineralization
This project aims to develop technologies toward the production of Li and Ni from CO2-reactive minerals and rocks that contain Ca and Mg, while sequestering CO2. The technologies include acoustic stimulation and electrolytic proton production, which use electricity to liberate valuable metal ions from the surrounding mineral matrix at sub-boiling temperatures (~20-80°C). Feedstocks include Li/Ni/Ca/Mg-rich igneous and sedimentary rocks and minerals such as holmquistite, hectorite, lateritic Ni ores enriched in Mg-rich serpentine. Other examples of feedstocks that could be used include coarse grained orthocumulate, mine tailings, etc. In the first step, the electrolytic breakdown of water to H+ and OH– (as well as O2 and H2) will be induced by applying an electric potential to simultaneously produce acidity and alkalinity. The solid feedstocks will be dissolved in the acidic anolyte under acoustic stimulation. Solubilized species will then undergo separation using our unique Li+-selective membranes driven by electrodialysis, leading to concentration of Li as soluble lithium silicate, from which Li2CO3 can be derived by reaction with CO2(g) while supplying cathode alkalinity. Also at the cathode, stepwise electrolytic precipitation of metal hydroxides, including Ni(OH)2, Ca(OH)2, and Mg(OH)2 is performed along a cascade reactor in which both the applied potential and pH increase downstream, thereby simultaneously extracting and separating the metals. Finally, exposure of Ca(OH)2 and Mg(OH)2 to dilute CO2 will result in CO2 uptake in the form of Ca and Mg carbonates. The primary accomplishments include sample procurement and characterization. Progress has been made on precursor identification and mapping, establishing protocols for assessing metal extractability under sonication, and preliminary technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and life cycle analysis (LCA).
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Texas, Arlington, TX (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AR0001701
- OSTI ID:
- 2319224
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-UTA-01701
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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