Researchers in Pittsburgh discover large source of lithium in Pennsylvania

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a significant amount of lithium in the wastewater from Marcellus Shale gas wells in Pennsylvania. This finding indicates that up to 40 percent of the lithium needed in the United States could be sourced from this wastewater. The research, led by Justin Mackey and his mentor Daniel Bain, utilized Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection data and published their results in Scientific Reports. Extracting lithium from this wastewater could not only supply a substantial portion of U.S. demand but also reduce the costs associated with waste management. The potential for lithium extraction in neighboring states like Ohio and West Virginia remains unexplored, which could further enhance the economic benefits for the region. Lithium is crucial for manufacturing everyday technologies such as smartphones and laptops, and is currently sourced from countries like China and Chile.

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