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

虽然从富含有机物（例如石油和天然气）的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。这为解决整个石油系统和锂地球化学循环开辟了新的途径。该项目将为源岩卤水中的Li开发一个变革性的表征框架，从而为将源岩卤水转化为Li的可持续来源奠定基础。因此，本项目的目标是在富含有机物的源岩中确定一种新的富锂卤水来源，用于可持续的能源储存。这一结果将有助于解决国内锂供应增加和多样化的迫切需要，因为最近发现了富含有机质的烃源岩作为锂源的潜力。为了实现这一目标，研究目标是：（1）实验确定干酪根中锂的反应机理（形成石油和天然气的源岩的固体有机物）在自然地质系统中，（2）通过孔隙尺度建模增强用于表征Li的传输作为矿物组成和结构的函数的建模能力，（3）通过将这些信息集成到盆地尺度模拟中来促进富锂卤水的识别和利用。该研究计划与启发学生与可持续能源储存相关的地下过程的教育目标相结合。学生将通过进行盆地规模的建模和源岩卤水的成分表征来参与研究计划，以找到锂回收的最佳位置。PI计划通过开发短期课程，小组讨论和电子通讯向工业合作者传播这些综合研究和教育工作的结果。此外，该教育计划将建立在PI现有的高中生指导计划的基础上，主题是可持续地下能源系统与计算机编程应用程序，并利用工程研究掌握计划与来自STEM代表性不足的群体的其他学生进行交流。该项目将整合地球化学实验表征技术和多尺度建模方法，以解决地质系统中源于干酪根的Li的命运和迁移。将元素、同位素、热解、动力学和热成分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，旨在提供对所观察到的实验室行为的深入了解，并帮助解决复杂且昂贵的问题。PI将利用一套实验表征技术和先进的孔隙和盆地规模建模技术的集成，以指导旨在成功回收可持续能源储存的工程工作。该研究计划的结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锂供应机会。成功展示了一种先进的方法来表征地下能源系统中的锂，这可能会导致从源岩卤水中回收现场规模的锂，并有可能释放大量新的锂储量。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得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来支持。

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.