New Mercury-Free Method Enhances Lithium-6 Extraction for Fusion Energy

2025-04-02 green

Delft, Wednesday, 2 April 2025.
Researchers developed a novel mercury-free technique for extracting lithium-6, critical for fusion energy, significantly reducing environmental risks. This advancement may accelerate the path toward sustainable energy.

Breakthrough Discovery

A research team from ETH Zürich and Texas A&M University announced on March 20, 2025, a groundbreaking method for extracting lithium-6 using zeta-vanadium oxide (ζ-V2O5), eliminating the need for toxic mercury in the process [1]. The discovery occurred serendipitously while the team was developing membranes for cleaning produced water from oil and gas drilling operations [2]. This development addresses a critical challenge in fusion energy production, as lithium-6 extraction has been stalled in the United States since 1963 due to environmental concerns over mercury usage [3].

Technical Excellence

The new method demonstrates remarkable efficiency, achieving a 5.7% enrichment of lithium-6 in a single electrochemical cycle [4]. To reach fusion-grade requirements, the process needs approximately 25 cycles to achieve 30% purity, with the potential to reach 90% purity after 45 cycles [2][4]. The process provides a visual confirmation of lithium absorption as the material transitions from bright yellow to dark olive green, enabling real-time monitoring of the extraction process [5].

Environmental Impact and Future Prospects

This sustainable alternative arrives at a crucial time, as the United States has been primarily relying on diminishing lithium-6 stockpiles stored at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee [3][6]. According to Dr. Sarbajit Banerjee, the project’s senior researcher, this development represents ‘a step towards addressing a major roadblock to nuclear energy’ [7]. The method operates entirely on electrical power, making it compatible with renewable energy sources and marking a significant advancement in clean energy technology [8].

Bronnen

Fusion Lithium-6