Novel Extraction and Responsible Sourcing of Lithium from Unconventional Brine and Hard Rock Resources

当我们进入一个由锂电池主导的世界时，英国如何才能蓬勃发展？英国将如何寻找、开发和确保必要的资源来实现这一目标？通过开发从英国卤水和硬岩资源中直接提取锂的全新路线，您可以站在回答这些问题的最前沿。通过这样做，您将帮助康沃尔锂有限公司（CLL）成为环保锂提取的世界领导者，并成为锂提取技术的世界专家之一。在全球范围内向以可再生能源和绿色能源为动力的低碳未来转型（尤其是电动汽车的发展）的推动下，预计全球电池用锂的需求将从2017年的217,000吨LCE（碳酸锂当量；路透社）增加到2025年的785,000吨LCE （Roskill）。为了满足这一需求，除了传统的采矿项目外，锂行业还必须迅速发现和开发新的锂资源。在这个充满活力和快节奏的行业中，提取技术也必须发展和发展，以考虑到各种新的潜在锂来源。康沃尔锂有限公司（CLL）是在勘探新的和非常规的锂（Li）矿床在英国和欧洲的最前沿。总部位于英格兰西南部，他们正在寻找并探索地热盐水溶液中含有锂的潜力，以及花岗岩等初级和次级硬岩来源，以及采矿和大宗采掘业的遗留废物。这也可以扩展到电池回收方面的应用技术。您将利用您已有的技能，帮助Cornish Lithium评估从英格兰西南部的盐水和硬岩资源中可靠提取锂的潜力。通过本课程，您将发展科学研究和工程方面的专业知识，并以商业为重点。为此，您将与CLL以及来自埃克塞特大学、华威大学和克兰菲尔德大学的专家合作，完成一系列项目工作，其中可能包括：开发新型、节能和环保的从地热盐水中提取锂和其他技术金属的技术。探索锂开采后地热盐水潜在回注对环境的影响。建立了不同压力-温度条件下萃取电位的理论模型。模拟温度升高对反应速率的影响，并探索在处理过程中利用盐水中的地热和能量的潜在经济效益。巩固在英国/欧洲处理遗留锂矿床的知识，然后设计和执行实验室测试，以确定哪些技术最适合CLL。评估在英国负责任采购锂及其他关键电池和技术金属的机会。完成生命周期分析，以调查围绕脱碳和负责任的锂采购的循环经济。

How can the UK thrive as we move into a world dominated by Li batteries? How will the UK find, develop & secure the necessary resources to do so? You can be at the forefront in answering these questions by developing brand-new routes for direct extraction of lithium from UK brines and hard-rock sources. In doing so, you will help Cornish Lithium Ltd. (CLL) to become a world-leader in environmentally-responsible extraction of lithium and become one of the world-experts in lithium extraction technologies.Driven by the worldwide transition towards a low carbon future powered by renewable and green energy (and significantly by the move towards electric vehicles), global demand for lithium for use within batteries is predicted to increase from 217,000 tonnes LCE in 2017 (Lithium Carbonate Equivalent; Reuters) to 785,000 tonnes LCE by 2025 (Roskill). To be able to meet this demand, the Li industry must rapidly identify and develop new sources of lithium in addition to more traditional mining projects. In this dynamic and fast paced industry, it is imperative that the extractive technologies must also evolve and develop to account for the diverse range of new potential sources of Li.Cornish Lithium Ltd. (CLL) are at the forefront of exploration for new and unconventional lithium (Li) deposits within the UK & Europe. Based in South West England, they are looking to define and explore the potential of Li contained in solution within geothermal brines, and in primary and secondary hard rock sources including granites, and legacy wastes from mining and bulk extractive industries. This may also also extend to technologies which have applications in battery recycling.You will build on your pre-existing skillset to help Cornish Lithium evaluate the potential for responsible lithium extraction from brine and hard rock sources in SW England. Through this programme, you will develop expertise in scientific research and engineering with a commercial focus. To do this, you will work with CLL and experts from the Universities of Exeter, Warwick and Cranfield to complete a portfolio of project work which will likely include:Developing novel, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible extraction techniques for lithiumand other technology metals from geothermal brines.Exploring the environmental impacts of potential re-injection of geothermal brines once lithium hasbeen extracted.Developing a theoretical model for extraction potential at different pressure-temperature conditionsi.e. model the effects that increased temperature has on reaction rates and explore the potentialeconomic benefits of utilising the geothermal heat and energy contained within the brines duringprocessing.Consolidating knowledge on processing of legacy deposits for lithium in UK / Europe, then designingand carrying out laboratory tests to delineate which techniques are most suitable for CLL.Evaluating the opportunities for responsible sourcing of lithium & other critical battery andtechnology metals within the UK.Completing life cycle analyses to investigate the circular economy around decarbonisation andresponsible sourcing of lithium.