The Rundown: MIT found a cleaner way to mine lithium

⛏️ MIT found a cleaner way to mine lithiumImage source: Images 2.0 / The Rundown

The Rundown: Researchers at MIT say they’ve cracked a cleaner way to extract battery-grade lithium from hard rock, with no acid roasting, no toxic sludge, and almost zero waste.

The details:A new ammonium‑fluoride process dissolves the silicate matrix in spodumene, then separates and purifies lithium, aluminum, and silica for industrial use.Lab tests recovered more than 95% of the lithium in rock samples, and the chemical reagent loops back into the process rather than going to waste. Running at low temperatures, it skips the energy-hungry roasting step that makes conventional hard-rock mining so carbon-intensive and expensive. MIT has spun out a startup, Rock Zero, pitching the technique as the cheapest path to lithium from any natural source.

Why it matters: Lithium supply is already struggling to keep pace with EV and grid-storage demand, leaving battery makers exposed to price shocks and China’s grip on refining. If Rock Zero can scale this at cost, it could give Western battery supply chains a cleaner, cheaper foundation to build on.
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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