New directions and principles for solvent extraction for recovery of lithium from aqueous brines and mineral leachates: A brief review

Barbara R. Evans; K. Jayanthi; Ilja Popovs; Bruce A. Moyer; M. Parans Paranthaman

doi:10.1016/j.susmat.2025.e01724

New directions and principles for solvent extraction for recovery of lithium from aqueous brines and mineral leachates: A brief review

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Abstract

Increasing demand for lithium for manufacturing of batteries is fueling the unprecedented search for improved recovery and alternative sources. Wider source distribution, lower energy consumption, and greater sustainability make extraction of lithium from brines, both natural and process-derived, an attractive alternative to mineral ores. Solvent extraction, used industrially for production of metals, salts, and pharmaceuticals, has been investigated as a methodology for lithium recovery for several decades. However, industrial application of solvent extraction for lithium recovery has so far been limited. In contrast, direct lithium extraction using adsorbents based on inorganic minerals has rapidly advanced from research to commercialization. A comparison of solvent extraction processes to adsorption highlights these issues and explains the preference for adsorbents. Although the application of solvent extraction has been criticized for use of large amounts of acid, alkali, and organic solvents, steady progress has been made to improve its potential for industrial lithium production, spurred on generally by the advantages of solvent extraction in selectivity and throughput. Previously developed beta-diketone, organophosphate, and crown ether ligands are being adapted and improved. Their novel use with ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, and membrane technologies promises to expand capabilities for extraction of lithium from dilute aqueous sources while improving sustainability. Possibilities for further discovery and innovation abound. In this review, we provide a unique perspective from the field of solvent extraction starting with fundamentals such as ion-transfer theory and apply them to understanding lithium selectivity and extraction behavior. The results are cast in the light of the practical realities of developing economical solvent extraction processes.

Original language	English
Article number	e01724
Journal	Sustainable Materials and Technologies
Volume	46
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2025.e01724
State	Published - Dec 2025

Funding

This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy. The United Sates Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript or allow others to do so, for US Government purposes. The DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan. All the authors have no competing financial interests. This work was supported by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy, and by the Critical Materials Innovation Hub funded by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office. Part of the sorbent research (MPP) was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy , Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy , Office of Geothermal Technologies Office through a Technology Commercialization Fund. BAM was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy , Office of Science , Basic Energy Sciences , Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division . This work was supported by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy, and by the Critical Materials Innovation Hub funded by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office. Part of the sorbent research (MPP) was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Geothermal Technologies Office through a Technology Commercialization Fund. BAM was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy. The United Sates Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript or allow others to do so, for US Government purposes. The DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan. All the authors have no competing financial interests.

Keywords

Brine
Cation partitioning
Leachate
Lithium
Solvent extraction
Sorbent

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10.1016/j.susmat.2025.e01724

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title = "New directions and principles for solvent extraction for recovery of lithium from aqueous brines and mineral leachates: A brief review",

abstract = "Increasing demand for lithium for manufacturing of batteries is fueling the unprecedented search for improved recovery and alternative sources. Wider source distribution, lower energy consumption, and greater sustainability make extraction of lithium from brines, both natural and process-derived, an attractive alternative to mineral ores. Solvent extraction, used industrially for production of metals, salts, and pharmaceuticals, has been investigated as a methodology for lithium recovery for several decades. However, industrial application of solvent extraction for lithium recovery has so far been limited. In contrast, direct lithium extraction using adsorbents based on inorganic minerals has rapidly advanced from research to commercialization. A comparison of solvent extraction processes to adsorption highlights these issues and explains the preference for adsorbents. Although the application of solvent extraction has been criticized for use of large amounts of acid, alkali, and organic solvents, steady progress has been made to improve its potential for industrial lithium production, spurred on generally by the advantages of solvent extraction in selectivity and throughput. Previously developed beta-diketone, organophosphate, and crown ether ligands are being adapted and improved. Their novel use with ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, and membrane technologies promises to expand capabilities for extraction of lithium from dilute aqueous sources while improving sustainability. Possibilities for further discovery and innovation abound. In this review, we provide a unique perspective from the field of solvent extraction starting with fundamentals such as ion-transfer theory and apply them to understanding lithium selectivity and extraction behavior. The results are cast in the light of the practical realities of developing economical solvent extraction processes.",

keywords = "Brine, Cation partitioning, Leachate, Lithium, Solvent extraction, Sorbent",

author = "Evans, \{Barbara R.\} and K. Jayanthi and Ilja Popovs and Moyer, \{Bruce A.\} and Paranthaman, \{M. Parans\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.susmat.2025.e01724",

language = "English",

volume = "46",

journal = "Sustainable Materials and Technologies",

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T2 - A brief review

AU - Evans, Barbara R.

AU - Jayanthi, K.

AU - Popovs, Ilja

AU - Moyer, Bruce A.

AU - Paranthaman, M. Parans

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Increasing demand for lithium for manufacturing of batteries is fueling the unprecedented search for improved recovery and alternative sources. Wider source distribution, lower energy consumption, and greater sustainability make extraction of lithium from brines, both natural and process-derived, an attractive alternative to mineral ores. Solvent extraction, used industrially for production of metals, salts, and pharmaceuticals, has been investigated as a methodology for lithium recovery for several decades. However, industrial application of solvent extraction for lithium recovery has so far been limited. In contrast, direct lithium extraction using adsorbents based on inorganic minerals has rapidly advanced from research to commercialization. A comparison of solvent extraction processes to adsorption highlights these issues and explains the preference for adsorbents. Although the application of solvent extraction has been criticized for use of large amounts of acid, alkali, and organic solvents, steady progress has been made to improve its potential for industrial lithium production, spurred on generally by the advantages of solvent extraction in selectivity and throughput. Previously developed beta-diketone, organophosphate, and crown ether ligands are being adapted and improved. Their novel use with ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, and membrane technologies promises to expand capabilities for extraction of lithium from dilute aqueous sources while improving sustainability. Possibilities for further discovery and innovation abound. In this review, we provide a unique perspective from the field of solvent extraction starting with fundamentals such as ion-transfer theory and apply them to understanding lithium selectivity and extraction behavior. The results are cast in the light of the practical realities of developing economical solvent extraction processes.

AB - Increasing demand for lithium for manufacturing of batteries is fueling the unprecedented search for improved recovery and alternative sources. Wider source distribution, lower energy consumption, and greater sustainability make extraction of lithium from brines, both natural and process-derived, an attractive alternative to mineral ores. Solvent extraction, used industrially for production of metals, salts, and pharmaceuticals, has been investigated as a methodology for lithium recovery for several decades. However, industrial application of solvent extraction for lithium recovery has so far been limited. In contrast, direct lithium extraction using adsorbents based on inorganic minerals has rapidly advanced from research to commercialization. A comparison of solvent extraction processes to adsorption highlights these issues and explains the preference for adsorbents. Although the application of solvent extraction has been criticized for use of large amounts of acid, alkali, and organic solvents, steady progress has been made to improve its potential for industrial lithium production, spurred on generally by the advantages of solvent extraction in selectivity and throughput. Previously developed beta-diketone, organophosphate, and crown ether ligands are being adapted and improved. Their novel use with ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, and membrane technologies promises to expand capabilities for extraction of lithium from dilute aqueous sources while improving sustainability. Possibilities for further discovery and innovation abound. In this review, we provide a unique perspective from the field of solvent extraction starting with fundamentals such as ion-transfer theory and apply them to understanding lithium selectivity and extraction behavior. The results are cast in the light of the practical realities of developing economical solvent extraction processes.

KW - Brine

KW - Cation partitioning

KW - Leachate

KW - Lithium

KW - Solvent extraction

KW - Sorbent

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ER -

New directions and principles for solvent extraction for recovery of lithium from aqueous brines and mineral leachates: A brief review

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