PENNSYLVANIA, USA — The results of a research study could be an economic game changer in Pennsylvania. The state, including the northeast, could provide 40 percent of the lithium needed in the United States.
The study shows that wastewater from fracking for natural gas includes high amounts of lithium. The research was done by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, a part of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Lithium is an element in high demand worldwide as it is used for batteries in electric vehicles, smartphones, and other electronics. In this country, recently passed legislation calls for lithium used for electric vehicle batteries to be sourced in the U.S. by 2030. That makes the demand for finding lithium here even higher.
The study used data that fracking companies must now provide to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. That shows the breakdown of what is found in wastewater that comes from wells fracked across the state. Researchers say the amounts of lithium reported is significant only in Pennsylvania shale gas operations, not other areas where fracking is done to extract natural gas.
"The drilling boom in Appalachia created large volumes of produced water that is considered a waste. We found that this fluid is significantly enriched with lithium compared to produced water from other shale formations," said Justin Mackey in a news release about the study from NETL.
The researchers also found that the highest concentrations of lithium found in Pennsylvania came from wells fracked in the Northeastern part of the state. The study also reports that the lithium found in wastewater here appears to be more easily extractable to be used for battery production.
The study estimates that 38 to 40% of the country's current lithium needs could come from Pennsylvania. There would need to be processes developed to extract that element from the wastewater.