About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2027 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Fundamentals of Sustainable Metallurgy and Materials Science
|
| Presentation Title |
Nanobubble-Mediated Metal Salt Extraction |
| Author(s) |
James C. Earthman |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
James C. Earthman |
| Abstract Scope |
The worldwide demand for metal salts such as lithium carbonate is projected by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to expand tenfold by 2050 from 2023 levels, driven primarily by electric vehicle battery production and clean energy storage. Existing extraction routes [solar evaporation ponds and modern direct metal extraction processes] require pre-concentration of brine to more than 4–6% extractant before a separate carbonation step can produce the metal salt in solid form. These multi-stage processes impose substantial environmental burdens including freshwater consumption, solid chemical additive production, and high energy demands for concentration and transport. Our lab demonstrated that nanobubbles bind to CaCO3 nanoparticle embryos near the solubility limit, forming nanobubble–nanoparticle clusters that drive bulk CaCO3 dissolution. Nanobubbles can also serve as nucleation sites and the gas inside them can favour nucleation of a particular desired metal salt. The extensive stability of these clusters makes their extraction cost effective without the need for pre-concentration or additional chemicals. This presentation reviews ongoing research on direct nanobubble-metal salt extraction that take advantage of the hydrophobic interaction between nanobubbles and nanoparticles. In addition to underlying theories and experimental data, challenges for commercial scale up will also be discussed. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, Sustainability, Characterization |