Sustainable Lithium Extraction from Brines Using Membrane Technologies

In this thesis, a sustainable membrane process capable of extracting lithium from brines while effectively utilizing magnesium (Mg) was developed by our group for the first time. Instead of relying on highly selective membranes, the process use chelators (e.g., EDTA) to bind Mg2+ ions, making Li+ separation easier by loose nanofiltration membranes. This method enables high Li recovery, minimizes chemical waste, and offers economic and environmental advantages over traditional evaporation-precipitation methods. Standards of chelators and application of a high-flux strategy are also introduced to enhance scalability and industrial feasibility, providing a more efficient and flexible solution for large-scale Li extraction.