Someone tell me why this isn’t feasible.
Because externalities of lithium extraction like using aquifers for evaporation ponds and the pollution from the leftover brine aren’t included in the cost of new lithium production, thus making less environmentally impactful methods of recovery too expensive to justify.
There’s always a catch.
Note that this is not a catch with this recycling process (necessarily, anyway; the article doesn’t get into too many specifics) but rather an end-run to make lithium mining and refining appear less awful than it actually is.
Mining new lithium may be “cheaper” in raw dollars and cents provided only you don’t include the environmental impact or the costs of dealing with the same as a line item on the invoice.
lithium mining and refining appear less awful than it actually is.
So do I undertand you correctly it’s just an “eventuality option simulation” to lower the environmental footprint?
Like for example the listed WLTP* Kw/h / fuel consumption of cars in perfect (lab)conditions which never exist?
*Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure
It’s probably not cheaper than just shooting orphans for sport.
Shooting orphans? In this economy?
You can get lithium from the pharmacy if you act crazy enough. Farm fresh lithium too, not some old phone battery lithium.
I’m so happy, cos today I found this thread
It’s in my fed
I get mine from track 5 of Nevermind
This shows how one company (li-cycle) that claims they recycle 95% of the lithium does it: https://youtu.be/s2xrarUWVRQ
99.99% doesn’t seem too far-fetched.
When refining a process, it becomes exponentially more difficult and expensive the closer you get to 100% efficiency. 0-95% costs less than 95-99%, which costs less than 99%-99.99%
