Lithium extraction by extractant confined in Pickering emulsion
Abstract The global energy transformation towards electrification and decarbonization urgently requires a sustainable lithium supply. However, current solvent extraction technology suffers from extractant dissolution and low efficiency. Herein, we develop an oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion wit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62927-z |
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| author | Enze Li Zelong Li Qiancheng Xia Feiyu Zhang Zhangqi Liang Zhaozan Xu Guandao Gao Hu Li Fangqin Cheng |
| author_facet | Enze Li Zelong Li Qiancheng Xia Feiyu Zhang Zhangqi Liang Zhaozan Xu Guandao Gao Hu Li Fangqin Cheng |
| author_sort | Enze Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The global energy transformation towards electrification and decarbonization urgently requires a sustainable lithium supply. However, current solvent extraction technology suffers from extractant dissolution and low efficiency. Herein, we develop an oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion with high stability using amphipathic SiO2 nanoparticles to confine tributyl phosphate (TBP) extractant within the oil phase for enhancing lithium extraction from salt-lake brine. Resultantly, the Pickering emulsion achieves a lithium recovery of 91.7% with Li-Mg separation factor (β Li Mg) of 101.9 after only three-stage extraction and Li+ mass transfer rate (k) of 4.57 × 10−8 m/s, greatly outperforming the traditional TBP system (52.8% recovery, β Li Mg = 12, k = 7.50 × 10−9 m/s). We propose that the tiny gaps between SiO2 particles serve as Li+ transport channels, in which the interfacial electric field generated by surface charges of SiO2 particles and the confinement effect within these gaps synergistically enhance Li+ dehydration and diffusion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d6d332f36dae4b16a235411c3c47fcf9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-d6d332f36dae4b16a235411c3c47fcf92025-08-20T03:42:55ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-011611910.1038/s41467-025-62927-zLithium extraction by extractant confined in Pickering emulsionEnze Li0Zelong Li1Qiancheng Xia2Feiyu Zhang3Zhangqi Liang4Zhaozan Xu5Guandao Gao6Hu Li7Fangqin Cheng8Institute of Resources and Environmental Engineering, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization Technology of Coal Waste Resources, Shanxi Laboratory of Yellow River, Shanxi UniversityInstitute of Resources and Environmental Engineering, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization Technology of Coal Waste Resources, Shanxi Laboratory of Yellow River, Shanxi UniversityState Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing UniversityState Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing UniversityState Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing UniversityInstitute of Resources and Environmental Engineering, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization Technology of Coal Waste Resources, Shanxi Laboratory of Yellow River, Shanxi UniversityState Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing UniversityQinghai Jintai Lithium Industry Co., LTDInstitute of Resources and Environmental Engineering, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization Technology of Coal Waste Resources, Shanxi Laboratory of Yellow River, Shanxi UniversityAbstract The global energy transformation towards electrification and decarbonization urgently requires a sustainable lithium supply. However, current solvent extraction technology suffers from extractant dissolution and low efficiency. Herein, we develop an oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion with high stability using amphipathic SiO2 nanoparticles to confine tributyl phosphate (TBP) extractant within the oil phase for enhancing lithium extraction from salt-lake brine. Resultantly, the Pickering emulsion achieves a lithium recovery of 91.7% with Li-Mg separation factor (β Li Mg) of 101.9 after only three-stage extraction and Li+ mass transfer rate (k) of 4.57 × 10−8 m/s, greatly outperforming the traditional TBP system (52.8% recovery, β Li Mg = 12, k = 7.50 × 10−9 m/s). We propose that the tiny gaps between SiO2 particles serve as Li+ transport channels, in which the interfacial electric field generated by surface charges of SiO2 particles and the confinement effect within these gaps synergistically enhance Li+ dehydration and diffusion.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62927-z |
| spellingShingle | Enze Li Zelong Li Qiancheng Xia Feiyu Zhang Zhangqi Liang Zhaozan Xu Guandao Gao Hu Li Fangqin Cheng Lithium extraction by extractant confined in Pickering emulsion Nature Communications |
| title | Lithium extraction by extractant confined in Pickering emulsion |
| title_full | Lithium extraction by extractant confined in Pickering emulsion |
| title_fullStr | Lithium extraction by extractant confined in Pickering emulsion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lithium extraction by extractant confined in Pickering emulsion |
| title_short | Lithium extraction by extractant confined in Pickering emulsion |
| title_sort | lithium extraction by extractant confined in pickering emulsion |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62927-z |
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