Sustainable lithium extraction from produced water: Integrating membrane pretreatment and next-generation adsorbents

With the surging demand for lithium in energy storage and electric vehicles, lithium production has become increasingly crucial to modern society. While conventional Salt Lake brines remain a primary lithium source, produced water-a byproduct of oil and gas extraction-has emerged as a promising alternative due to its considerable extraction potential. In this review, we propose an efficient and sustainable process that leverages the strengths of membrane treatment and lithium adsorption. This process combines membrane treatment as an efficient pretreatment method for produced water with adsorption as a highly selective and effective approach for subsequent lithium extraction. The review first examines conventional membrane materials, such as polysulfone and ceramics, for pretreatment, alongside key classes of lithium adsorbents, including titanium-based, manganese-based, and aluminum-based materials. It then discusses advancements and modifications in these materials, emphasizing performance enhancements for lithium recovery. Emerging material optimization strategies, such as electrochemical coupling and the development of fibrous adsorbents, are also discussed, highlighting their potential to improve efficiency and scalability. A detailed process roadmap is presented, demonstrating the integration of membrane-based pretreatment with adsorbent-based lithium recovery and underscoring the strong industrial adaptability of this approach. By providing a comprehensive analysis of material performance and process optimization, this review offers valuable insights into scalable, efficient, and sustainable solutions for lithium extraction from produced water.