CAREER: Identifying a New Source of Lithium for Sustainable and Renewable Energy Storage

职业：寻找可持续和可再生能源存储的新锂来源

• 批准号: 2042504
• 负责人: Kyung Jae Lee
• 金额: $ 50.87万
• 依托单位: University of Houston
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-06-01 至 2026-05-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2042504&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Identifying; New; Source; Lithium

While water produced from organic–rich (e.g. petroleum and natural gas) source rocks has been considered wastewater, it has been recently revealed as a potential source of substantial amounts of lithium (Li). This opens new pathways to address the entire petroleum system and Li geochemical cycle. This project will develop a transformative characterization framework for Li in source rock brines, thus laying the foundation for converting source rock brines into a sustainable source of Li. Thus, the goal of this project is to identify a new source of Li–rich brines in organic–rich source rocks for sustainable energy storage. This outcome will help address the urgent need to enhance and diversify the domestic supply of Li, given the recently found potential of organic–rich source rocks as a source of Li.To attain the goal, the research objectives are to (1) experimentally determine the reaction mechanisms of Li originating from kerogen (solid organic matter of source rocks creating oil and gas) in natural geologic systems, (2) enhance modeling capability for characterizing the transport of Li as a function of mineral compositions and structures through pore–scale modeling, and (3) promote the identification and utilization of Li–rich brines by integrating this information into basin–scale modeling. This research program is integrated with the educational goal of enlightening students in subsurface processes related to sustainable resources for energy storage. Students will be engaged in the research program by conducting basin–scale modeling and compositional characterization of source rock brines to find optimal locations for Li recovery. The PI plans to disseminate the findings of these integrated research and educational efforts to industrial collaborators through the development of short courses, panel discussions, and e–newsletters. Additionally, the educational program will build upon the PI’s existing mentoring program for high school students on the topic of sustainable subsurface energy systems with computer programming applications and leverage a Program for Mastery in Engineering Studies to engage with various other students from underrepresented groups in STEM. This project will integrate geochemical experimental characterization techniques and multiscale modeling approaches for addressing the fate and transport of Li originating from kerogen in geologic systems. Merging elemental, isotopic, pyrolytic, kinetic, and thermal–compositional theories into a finite volume pore–scale model and an integral finite difference basin–scale model is targeted to provide an insight into observed laboratory behavior and help progress toward a solution to a complex and expensive problem. The PI will utilize integration of a suite of experimental characterization techniques and advanced pore and basin scale modeling techniques to guide engineering efforts that aim to successfully recover sustainable resources for energy storage. Results from the research program are intended to create new opportunities of supplying Li for sustainable energy storage by transforming the source of oil and gas into a source of Li. The successful demonstration of an advanced approach to characterize Li in the subsurface energy systems may give rise to field–scale Li recovery from the source rock brines and potentially unlock vast new Li reserves.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

虽然富有机物（如石油和天然气）烃源岩产生的水被认为是废水，但最近发现它是大量锂（Li）的潜在来源。这为研究整个油气系统和李氏地球化学旋回开辟了新的途径。本项目将建立烃源岩卤水中锂的转化表征框架，从而为将烃源岩卤水转化为可持续的锂源奠定基础。因此，该项目的目标是在富有机质烃源岩中找到一种新的富锂盐水来源，用于可持续储能。考虑到最近发现的富有机质烃源岩作为锂的潜在来源，这一结果将有助于解决增加和多样化国内锂供应的迫切需要。为了实现这一目标，研究目标是：(1)通过实验确定自然地质系统中源自干酪根（烃源岩中形成油气的固体有机质）的锂的反应机制；(2)通过孔隙尺度模拟，增强表征矿物组成和结构对锂输运的影响的建模能力；(3)将这些信息整合到盆地尺度模型中，促进富锂盐水的识别和利用。该研究项目与教育目标相结合，旨在启发学生了解与可持续能源储存相关的地下过程。学生将参与研究项目，进行盆地尺度的建模和烃源岩盐水的成分表征，以找到最佳的锂回收位置。PI计划通过开发短期课程、小组讨论和电子通讯，将这些综合研究和教育努力的结果传播给工业合作者。此外，该教育项目将以PI现有的高中生指导项目为基础，以可持续地下能源系统与计算机编程应用为主题，并利用工程研究精通项目与STEM中代表性不足群体的其他学生进行交流。本项目将结合地球化学实验表征技术和多尺度模拟方法，研究地质系统中源自干酪根的锂的命运和运移。将元素，同位素，热解，动力学和热组成理论合并到有限体积孔隙尺度模型和积分有限差分盆地尺度模型中，旨在提供对观察到的实验室行为的洞察，并帮助解决复杂而昂贵的问题。PI将利用一套实验表征技术和先进的孔隙和盆地尺度建模技术的集成，指导旨在成功恢复可持续能源存储资源的工程工作。该研究项目的成果旨在通过将石油和天然气的来源转化为锂的来源，为可持续能源储存创造新的机会。在地下能量系统中表征锂的先进方法的成功演示可能会从源岩盐水中产生现场规模的锂回收，并可能解锁巨大的新锂储量。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

The experimental investigation and data–driven modeling for thermal decomposition kinetics of Green River Shale

• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123899
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Fuel
• 影响因子: 7.4
• 作者: Jiahui You;K. Lee

Pore-Scale and Upscaled Investigations of Release and Transport of Lithium in Organic-Rich Shales

富含有机质页岩中锂的释放和运移的孔隙尺度和放大研究

• DOI: 10.1007/s11242-024-02071-2
• 发表时间: 2024
• 期刊: Transport in Porous Media
• 影响因子: 2.7
• 作者: You, Jiahui;Lee, Kyung Jae
• 通讯作者: Lee, Kyung Jae

Release, Transport, and accumulation of lithium in shale brines

• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2023.129629
• 期刊: Fuel
• 影响因子: 7.4
• 作者: K. Lee;Jiahui You;Yongjun Gao;Tanguy Terlier

A review on advances in direct lithium extraction from continental brines: Ion-sieve adsorption and electrochemical methods for varied Mg/Li ratios

• DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2024.e00923
• 发表时间: 2024-04
• 期刊: Sustainable Materials and Technologies
• 影响因子: 9.6
• 作者: M. R. Mojid;Kyung Jae Lee;Jiahui You

Experimental Characterization and Pore-Scale Modeling of Iron Precipitation in Shale Reservoirs by Interacting with Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid

页岩储层中铁与水力压裂液相互作用沉淀的实验表征和孔隙尺度模拟

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c02568
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Energy & Fuels
• 影响因子: 5.3
• 作者: You, Jiahui;Lee, Kyung Jae
• 通讯作者: Lee, Kyung Jae