Context:
Researchers at the University of Princeton have developed a String technique that can drastically reduce the amount of land and time needed for lithium production.
Current method of production: A large majority of the lithium produced in the world is extracted from brine reservoirs located in salt flats which is an extremely resource intensive and time-consuming process. It is commercially viable only in a few locations around the world.
About String Technology:
- A set of porous fibres twisted into strings.
- They are treated with chemicals to have a water-loving (hydrophilic) inside and water-repelling (hydrophobic) outside.
- When one end is dipped in a salt-water solution, the water travels up the string because of capillary action.
- The water then evaporates quickly from the string’s surface which leaves behind salt ions such as sodium and lithium.
- Continued evaporation makes the salts increasingly concentrated, eventually forming sodium chloride and lithium chloride crystals.
- Sodium having low solubility, crystallises on the lower part, while the highly soluble lithium salts crystallise near the top.
- Merits –
- Reduces the production time
- Reduces the land requirement by 90%
- Allows automatic recovery of lithium without the use of additional chemicals
- Allows to access new areas and new conditions like humid climates such as defunct oil and gas wells
About Lithium:
- Lithium is lightest solid metal.
- It is a soft, silvery-white metal.
- It is highly reactive and flammable, and must be stored in mineral oil.
- It is an alkali metal and a rare metal.
- Australia is the world’s biggest supplier, with production of Lithium from hard rock mines, while Argentina, Chile and China are producing it from salt lakes.
- Countries with Largest Reserves: Chile > Australia > Argentina
- Applications – modern batteries, ceramics, glass, grease, metallurgical powders, telecommunication and aerospace industries.
- Lithium in India –
- In India, 1st traces of Lithium ever to be discovered in the ancient igneous rock of Karnataka’s Mandya district.
- Lithium reserves were also discovered in J&K.
- Currently, India imports all its lithium needs, with China and Hong Kong biggest suppliers.
- Other Potential Lithium Sites in India –
- Mica belts in Rajasthan, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Pegmatite (igneous rocks) belts in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
- Brines of Sambhar and Pachpadra in Rajasthan, and Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat.
Source: Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
If there were no phenomenon of capillarity
1. it would be difficult to use a kerosene lamp.
2. one would not be able to use a straw to consume a soft drink.
3. the blotting paper would fail to function.
4. the big trees that we see around would not have grown on the Earth.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b)
