<p>Lithium, an integral ingredient in EV batteries and energy storage, is gradually taking over petroleum and natural gas as the critical commodity for the ongoing green energy revolution. All battery chemistries (NMC, LFP, solid state, silicon anodes, etc.) require lithium as the key element, with lithium demand projected to increase by &gt;10x in 2040 relative to today.</p><p><br/></p><p>Despite tens of billions in capital expenditure pouring into lithium mineral exploration and development, minable lithium reserves and resources are falling short of projected industrial demand, underscoring the need for a dramatic breakthrough in mining and refining technology.</p><p><br/></p><p><img src="/upload/image/2023-11/1701007772157122.png" title="1701007772157122.png" alt="图片6.png"/></p><p><br/></p><p><br/></p>

<p>Despite paving the way for a greener future, conventional methods of lithium extraction, such as hardrock mining and salt lake mining, inevitably harm the environment in the form of soil degradation, biodiversity loss, water contamination, and substantial greenhouse gas emissions .</p><p><br/></p><p>A recent study by MIT revealed that the extraction of one tonne of lithium emits approximately 15 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. It’s been further estimated that the carbon footprint of an electric vehicle is bigger than that of a gasoline car until one has driven at least 50,000 miles, due to emissions as a result of acquiring and processing primarily lithium.</p><p><br/></p><p>Therefore, the advent of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technologies has been hailed as a potential panacea. However, it is imperative to critically evaluate their true efficacy.</p><p><br/></p><p><img src="/upload/image/2023-11/1701008141977574.png" title="1701008141977574.png" alt="007.png"/></p>