Lithium is a critical resource in the modern tech-driven era, with lithium-ion batteries powering portable electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. Lithium production has increased by 256% in the last decade and is expected to reach 2.4 million metric tons by 2030 due to global demand.1
Yet, as mining operations expand to meet this growing demand, concerns over the environmental and health impacts on surrounding communities, ecosystems, and workers are intensifying. Addressing these issues requires novel and sustainable methods for lithium extraction.1-3
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Environmental Impact of Lithium Mining
Lithium mining, which includes lithium extraction and processing, causes soil, water, and air pollution. The process also leads to depletion of water resources, affecting the local communities in lithium mining regions.2
Trace amounts of lithium can be found in tailings piles, waste storage ponds, processed waters, and transported products. Due to toxic chemicals being released during lithium processing, this contamination may negatively affect human health, aquatic life, and soil ecology. The failure of polyvinyl chloride used to line the evaporation ponds can lead to contaminant leaks.2
Brine evaporitic technology negatively impacts flora and fauna, water use, waste disposal and generation, and land subsidence. Yet, few studies link lithium production volume to these environmental effects. Water consumption is estimated at 500,000 gallons per ton of extracted lithium by evaporative technology.2
Studies show that 95% of extracted brine water is lost permanently to evaporation. A total of 98% of waste in Australia is not recycled, while Chile's Salar de Atacama, water extraction increased by 21% in 15 years, depleting local groundwater by up to one meter per year. Groundwater is vital in arid regions for human consumption, crop irrigation, livestock, and native plant species, and thus, the contamination risk is a significant issue.2
Spodumene mining offers advantages in lithium production due to its high lithium content (over 3% lithium oxide), reducing processing needs. It also contains fewer impurities than other lithium sources, resulting in higher purity lithium compounds, which are crucial for the safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries.3
Despite its advantages, spodumene mining has environmental concerns. Open-pit mining used for spodumene extraction disrupts habitats and ecosystems, while tailings disposal requires careful management to prevent contamination. Mining and processing are energy-intensive, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and broader environmental impacts.3
Social Implications of Lithium Mining
Lithium-rich brine extraction impacts local communities' traditional practices and livelihoods, requiring measures to ensure they benefit from the economic opportunities generated by such projects.3
For instance, water extraction operations on the Salar, including the Sociedad química y Minera (SQM)'s lithium mine, are conducted without consulting Atacameno people. Despite SQM's claims of legality and sustainability, indigenous leaders argue these operations violate their traditional rights, and recent legal rulings support the mining industry's access to resources, including water.4
In Bolivia, indigenous communities near lithium extraction sites worry about freshwater contamination affecting agriculture, health, and overall well-being. While seeking economic development and job opportunities, these communities face socio-economic challenges, limited resources, and lack the technical knowledge to engage in environmental decision-making.4
In Argentina, lithium extraction in regions like the Salinas Grandes salt flat has raised concerns about its impact on indigenous communities like the Atacama and Kolla people. These communities depend on agriculture and herding and thus face disruption to their livelihoods due to water depletion caused by large-scale lithium extraction. The extraction process risks depleting already scarce water resources in arid regions, threatening local ecosystems and water access.4
Sustainable Lithium Mining
Current lithium mining methods can be improved to protect the environment while maintaining economic viability. The improvement measures include waste reduction, water recycling, extracting multiple raw materials from the same brine, more efficient brine processing, transferable technology, smaller mining footprints, and minimizing surface subsidence.2
Several alternative technologies have also been developed to make lithium mining operations more sustainable by addressing the existing issues.3
Direct lithium extraction (DLE)
This advanced extraction process extracts lithium from brine sources more efficiently than traditional methods. Unlike traditional extraction processes that involve pumping brine to the surface and solar evaporation to extract and concentrate lithium, DLE streamlines the extraction process by bypassing this time-consuming and cumbersome step.3
This method aims to efficiently capture lithium ions from brine, accelerate extraction, and reduce the environmental impact of large evaporation ponds. DLE technologies require fewer chemicals and lower energy inputs, which reduces environmental impact and lowers carbon emissions.3
Many DLE methods are water-efficient, alleviating pressure on local water resources, which is a significant concern in lithium extraction regions. This makes DLE a more sustainable option for lithium production.3
Despite their potential, DLE technologies face challenges in scalability, as many are still in pilot phases and unproven for large-scale production. High initial investment costs pose a barrier to achieving cost competitiveness with traditional extraction methods.3
Why The EV Industry Is Betting On This Lithium Mining Breakthrough
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Geothermal brine recovery
This method uses underground hot water reservoirs/geothermal brines to extract heat energy and valuable minerals. This process supports sustainable geothermal resource utilization, contributing to renewable energy production and resource extraction.3
Geothermal brine recovery for lithium extraction is highly sustainable, avoiding environmental issues like water pollution, habitat disruption, and high energy consumption. By integrating lithium extraction with geothermal power plants, transportation emissions are minimized.3
Geothermal brines are naturally replenished over time, in contrast to traditional lithium mining that depletes finite ore deposits. This eco-friendly approach reduces the carbon footprint of lithium production, making it a more sustainable alternative.3
Adsorption-coupled electrochemical technology
This technology is a novel approach to lithium extraction, combining adsorption and electrochemical techniques to improve lithium extraction efficiency and sustainability.
Optimizing electrochemical processes reduces energy consumption during the desorption phase. This reduction in energy consumption makes the extraction process more energy-efficient and eco-friendly.3
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Yet, the implementation of adsorption-coupled electrochemical technology faces challenges, specifically in designing efficient adsorbent materials with high lithium ion affinity. Researchers are working to develop new materials to improve selectivity and overall extraction efficiency.3
New Developments in Lithium Mining
A paper recently published in Nature Communications developed an electrochemical method to directly leach lithium from α-phase spodumene. The hydrogen peroxide promoter reduced the leaching potential significantly by altering the reaction path and facilitating electron transfer. During leaching, β-phase spodumene underwent a phase transformation to HAlSi2O6, while the leached α-phase remained its original crystal structure with lattice shrinkage.5
A high-throughput catalyst-modified current collector was designed for high suspended spodumene loading to display the scale-up of electrochemical leaching, achieving 18 mA leaching current and 92.2% leaching efficiency. This electrochemical leaching method promises to transform traditional recycling and leaching processes, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.5
Future Outlook of Lithium Mining
The future of lithium mining depends on the adoption of sustainable extraction methods—approaches designed to reduce environmental impact while making more efficient use of resources. As these technologies evolve, they offer a path toward lithium production that aligns more closely with environmental and social responsibility.
Today’s lithium mining practices have considerable environmental and social costs, highlighting the urgent need for cleaner, more sustainable alternatives. Emerging technologies such as direct lithium extraction (DLE) and geothermal brine recovery are showing real potential. These methods can significantly reduce water use, reduce reliance on harsh chemicals, and lower overall carbon emissions.
Moving forward, the industry must focus on innovation and responsible resource management to secure a more sustainable lithium supply.
References and Further Reading
- Geshgian, G., Savul, S.A., Emmett, E., Shofer, F.S. Occupational and Environmental Health Impacts of Lithium Mining and Processing [Online] Available at https://publichealth.jhu.edu/sites/default/files/2024-10/Occ_Env_HealthImpactsofLithiumMiningProcessing_Final.pdf (Accessed on 06 March 2025)
- Kaunda, R. B. (2020). Potential environmental impacts of lithium mining. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law, 38(3), 237-244. DOI: 10.1080/02646811.2020.1754596, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02646811.2020.1754596
- Krishnan, R., Gopan, G. (2024). A comprehensive review of lithium extraction: From historical perspectives to emerging technologies, storage, and environmental considerations. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 20, 100749. DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2024.100749, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824000296
- Hegarty, A. C. R. (2023). The Impact of Environmental and Social Challenges of Lithium Extraction from the Lithium Triangle Countries: A Literature Review from a Political Ecology and Environmental Justice Perspective. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1820869&dswid=5108
- Zhang, H. et al. (2024). Direct extraction of lithium from ores by electrochemical leaching. Nature Communications, 15(1), 1-11. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48867-0, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48867-0
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