UnLimited
- Contact:
Dr. Elisabeth Eiche, Prof. Dr. Jochen Kolb, Rebekka Reich, Klemens Slunitschek
- Funding:
Funded by the BMWK (Project Nr. O3EE4023D)
- Startdate:
01.12.2020
- Enddate:
30.11.2024
The aim of the UnLimited cooperation project is to investigate and develop the necessary scientific and technical basis for lithium production from deep geothermal brines in Germany. The investigations include the Upper Rhine Graben (ORG) and the North German Basin (NDB), in which increased lithium concentrations in thermal waters have been documented. More information on the overall project and current developments can be found here www.geothermal-lithium.org
A major research focus at KIT is the selection and characterization of particularly suitable, lithium-selective adsorbents. In addition to selectivity and efficiency, the main selection criteria are the suitability for use in a continuous flow mode under high pressure and environmental compatibility during production. When selecting the adsorbents, the specific requirements of the deep geothermal brines in the Upper Rhine Graben (ORG) and North German Basin (NDB) will be considered. The work will be primarily carried within the framework of two PhD thesis:
- Selective lithium extraction from geothermal brines of the Upper Rhine Graben and the North German Basin by sorption (Reich, R.)
- Selective lithium extraction from geothermal brines of the Upper Rhine Graben (Slunitschek, K.)