SMRTR Science & EngineeringMar 10, 2026Interesting Engineering

Scientists use toxic ‘forever chemicals’ to extract 99% pure battery-grade lithium

SMRTR summary

Rice University scientists discovered a method to transform toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" into a tool for extracting 99% pure lithium from saltwater brine, using Flash Joule Heating to break chemical bonds and create lithium fluoride in seconds rather than months. This breakthrough simultaneously destroys hazardous waste while producing battery-grade lithium with 82% recovery rates, offering a faster, more sustainable alternative to traditional mining.

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