Lithium Extraction and Battery Recycling

Lithium is a critical component in the rechargeable batteries that power electronic devices, electric vehicles and grids. However, supplies of natural lithium are limited to specific regions of the world such as South America, Australia and China. As demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to surge, driven by the growing electric vehicle market and renewable energy storage needs, potential shortages and price increases are of great concern.

In response to this challenge, we will develop membrane technologies to extract lithium. Fortunately, Saudi Arabia possesses a wealth of unconventional lithium resources, including oilfield-produced water, geothermal water, mining wastewater and seawater desalination brines. We will focus on scaling, optimizing and reducing the cost of lithium extraction technology using a membrane recently developed at KAUST. We will also develop battery reuse and recycling processes to recover lithium and other important metals from used batteries.

By focusing on Li extraction from Saudi Arabian sources and recycling technology, this theme aims to bolster the position of the Kingdom in terms of securing Li supplies for this fast-growing grid and EV industry. We envision that our extracted lithium can be sold and used to develop cathode materials, salts and electrolytes.