A team of researchers with members from BRGM, Orléans, EDF, EDF R&D, 77818, Moret sur Loing and Université Grenoble-Alpes, all in France, has found a possible way to trace sources of commercial lithium to determine whether it comes from an ethical source. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the group describes their study of the possibility of using lithium isotopic signatures to trace its roots.
Modern technology is heavily dependent on lithium, a soft, silver-white metal used in batteries for smartphones, computers and cars. Lithium is mined and processed to make it useful. In recent years, there have been reports of unethical activities at lithium mines, such as mistreatment of miners, overuse of freshwater sources and the destruction of local ecosystems. Because of such behavior, there have been calls to ban the use of lithium from such sites or for consumers to boycott products made using lithium from these sources. The problem is that there is no real way to trace the source of lithium. Currently, lithium production and lithium use are tracked through information in databases and documented in paperwork, but both sources can be easily faked. In this new effort, the researchers noted that lithium from different mines is likely to have different isotope ratios, which can be used as signatures, possibly making them traceable.
More specifically, the researchers noted that lithium has two stable isotopes—lithium-6 and -7, and that the ratios of the two in a given sample of lithium varies from site to site. These ratios, they note, are due to environmental conditions. To find out if the ratios are different enough to use as source signatures, the researchers analyzed data from other research efforts involved in the study of lithium, noting particularly the isotopic ratios and where the samples came from. The researchers were not able to come up with a definitive answer but suggest the evidence suggests that the ratios are different enough to constitute a signature. They note that it should be possible for someone to collect samples directly from most, if not all, of the existing lithium mines to measure their ratios and to confirm whether they are different enough to use as a sourcing signature.
More information:Anne-Marie Desaulty et al, Tracing the origin of lithium in Li-ion batteries using lithium isotopes, Nature Communications (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31850-y
Journal information:Nature Communications
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As an expert in the field, my deep understanding of isotopic signatures and their application in tracing the origin of materials allows me to shed light on the groundbreaking research conducted by a team of researchers from BRGM, Orléans, EDF, EDF R&D, Moret sur Loing, and Université Grenoble-Alpes in France. Their recent study, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, explores a potential method to trace the sources of commercial lithium, addressing the ethical concerns associated with its extraction and use.
Lithium, a crucial component in modern technology, particularly in batteries for smartphones, computers, and electric cars, has faced increasing scrutiny due to reports of unethical practices at lithium mines. Issues such as mistreatment of miners, excessive use of freshwater resources, and ecological damage have prompted calls for ethical sourcing and consumer awareness.
The challenge lies in the difficulty of reliably tracing the source of lithium, as current methods based on databases and paperwork are susceptible to manipulation. Here, the researchers propose an innovative approach: utilizing lithium isotopic signatures to distinguish lithium from different mines.
Lithium has two stable isotopes—lithium-6 and lithium-7—each with a specific ratio in a given sample. These ratios vary depending on the environmental conditions at the mining site. The researchers, drawing on data from various studies on lithium isotopes, aimed to determine if these variations are distinctive enough to serve as unique signatures for different mines.
Although the researchers did not arrive at a definitive conclusion, their analysis suggests that the isotopic ratios of lithium from different mines may indeed be distinct enough to constitute a reliable signature. This implies that by directly collecting samples from lithium mines and analyzing their isotopic ratios, it could be possible to confirm the ethical origin of lithium used in electronic devices.
The study, titled "Tracing the origin of lithium in Li-ion batteries using lithium isotopes," underscores the potential of isotopic analysis in addressing ethical concerns associated with lithium sourcing. This research not only contributes to the ongoing discourse on responsible resource extraction but also paves the way for practical solutions to ensure the ethical production of essential materials for our increasingly technology-dependent world. The scientific community awaits further developments in this promising field that could revolutionize the way we verify the ethicality of materials in our electronic devices.
