[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [TECHNOLOGY]

2 clusters · 4 sources · 18 days · First seen · Last updated

Seawater critical mineral extraction research

Overview

Research into seawater mineral extraction has focused on developing sustainable alternatives to traditional land-based mining for critical elements.

Initial studies by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) demonstrated that processing a small fraction of the world’s ocean water could supply minerals like magnesium, lithium, and nickel for tens of thousands of years. Their integrated three-step technology utilizes a patented co-flow reactor to produce magnesium hydroxide, which could potentially meet significant portions of U.S. consumption.

Subsequent developments have introduced specific electrochemical methods to improve this process. By utilizing specially engineered bismuth electrodes, researchers have found a way to selectively remove magnesium ions from seawater. This method modulates local acidity to collect magnesium as magnesium hydroxide, which can then be converted into magnesium chloride for industrial use, offering a more cost-effective and less energy-intensive approach than conventional rock-based mining.

Entities

Magnesium · Pacific Northwest National Laboratory · United States Department of Energy · Rare earth elements · Lithium

Timeline

  1. 28 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
    Researchers develop electrochemical method to extract magnesium from seawater

    Scientists have developed a new electrochemical system using bismuth electrodes to extract magnesium from seawater, offering a more sustainable and cheaper alternative to traditional rock mining.

  2. about 2 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    US PNNL Study Shows Seawater Could Supply Critical Minerals for 50,000 Years

    US researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory say extracting minerals from just 0.1 % of seawater could meet global magnesium, lithium, nickel and rare‑earth demand for over 50,000 years, using a new

Sources

businessnewsthisweek.com · digitalphablet.com · knowridge.com · newdiplomatng.com