Life-cycle carbon footprint of novel technologies for lithium production and potential implications for the supply chain in North America

IF 10.9 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Resources Conservation and Recycling Pub Date : 2025-09-25 DOI:10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108598

Emily Nishikawa , Sylvia Sleep , Joule Bergerson

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study explores unconventional lithium sources in North America for producing lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LiOH.H₂O) with lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to traditional sources. We also estimate how batteries using LiOH.H₂O would compare with the emerging sodium-ion battery technology. Novel technologies (e.g., direct lithium extraction, DLE, and electrochemical refining) show promise to reduce GHG emissions compared to traditional methods, with carbon footprints from 2 to 18 kgCO₂eq/kg LiOH.H₂O (baseline, no allocation). Electricity carbon intensity and methodological choices (e.g., co-product allocation/substitution, boundary definitions) are the most influential factors across pathways, with impacts ranging from -156 % to 130 % in carbon footprints relative to baseline scenarios. Furthermore, while unconventional lithium sources coupled with novel processing technologies may reduce carbon footprints compared to current incumbent pathways, research and development (R&D) and innovation effects should be considered to maintain competitiveness in the face of other emerging technologies, such as sodium-ion batteries.

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锂生产新技术的生命周期碳足迹及其对北美供应链的潜在影响

该研究探索了北美的非常规锂资源，以生产与传统来源相比温室气体（GHG）排放量更低的一水氢氧化锂（LiOH.H2O）。我们还估算了使用LiOH的电池。H2O可以与新兴的钠离子电池技术相媲美。与传统方法相比，新技术（如直接锂提取、DLE和电化学精炼）有望减少温室气体排放，碳足迹从2到18 kgCO2eq/kg LiOH。H2O（基线，无分配）。电力碳强度和方法选择（例如，副产品分配/替代、边界定义）是各途径中最具影响力的因素，相对于基线情景，其影响范围为碳足迹的- 156%至130%。此外，尽管与现有途径相比，非常规锂源与新型加工技术相结合可能会减少碳足迹，但在面对其他新兴技术（如钠离子电池）时，应考虑研发和创新效应，以保持竞争力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Resources Conservation and Recycling 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

22.90

自引率

6.10%

发文量

625

审稿时长

23 days

期刊介绍： The journal Resources, Conservation & Recycling welcomes contributions from research, which consider sustainable management and conservation of resources. The journal prioritizes understanding the transformation processes crucial for transitioning toward more sustainable production and consumption systems. It highlights technological, economic, institutional, and policy aspects related to specific resource management practices such as conservation, recycling, and resource substitution, as well as broader strategies like improving resource productivity and restructuring production and consumption patterns. Contributions may address regional, national, or international scales and can range from individual resources or technologies to entire sectors or systems. Authors are encouraged to explore scientific and methodological issues alongside practical, environmental, and economic implications. However, manuscripts focusing solely on laboratory experiments without discussing their broader implications will not be considered for publication in the journal.