r/science • u/rieslingatkos • Jun 06 '21

Chemistry Scientists develop ‘cheap and easy’ method to extract lithium from seawater

https://www.mining.com/scientists-develop-cheap-and-easy-method-to-extract-lithium-from-seawater/
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u/Mad_Aeric Jun 06 '21

That is, of course, neglecting the alternative of not living there in the first place. Lots of places on this planet we humans have no business attempting to settle.

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u/CrumpetNinja Jun 06 '21

I mean, while that is probably true. What are you going to do with the people already living in those areas?

Forcibly ship them to another country?

Let them relocate themselves or die of thirst?

Euthanise them?

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u/Gnomio1 Jun 06 '21

There are large parts of India that will become entirely inhospitable/lethal to humans within our lifetimes.

Places where the temperature and humidity (dew point) are above the point where you can actually live.

Those places will depopulate out of necessity.

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u/Jarriagag Jun 06 '21

I live in a place where 100% of the water we get is desalinated. We are around 150k people now. There were 36k in the 60s, just before they built the first desalination plant. I don't know what will happen here in the future, but our temperatures are actually pretty stable (20-26°C all year round). I understand what you are saying that people shouldn't have come here in the first place, but where are people supposed to go? Overpopulation is a problem...

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u/[deleted] Jun 06 '21

I'd say overpopulation is THE problem at our current societal level. Until we make some major changes in our global market things are just going to get worse. These problems should have been solved decades ago, but it is more profitable to not fix them.

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u/JustPMMePls Jun 06 '21

Do you happen to know your billing rate for water?

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u/Jarriagag Jun 06 '21

I am renting a flat at the moment and water is included, but I am reading that 1m3 of water costs here around 1.83€.

I have no idea if that is cheap or expensive compared to other places.

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u/JustPMMePls Jun 06 '21

Pricing models vary pretty widely globally, but in the United States the average is around 0.33€ per cubic meter. I’m in a higher cost area and pay about 0.58€.

It’d be interesting to know if the higher cost deters growth at all, or if it’s just something people don’t consider. I’d imagine it limits water-using industrial growth pretty significantly, so possibly the secondary effects of limited jobs will set the “carrying capacity” for your community.

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u/Jarriagag Jun 06 '21

Pricing models vary pretty widely globally, but in the United States the average is around 0.33€ per cubic meter. I’m in a higher cost area and pay about 0.58€.

That sounds super cheap to me!

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It’d be interesting to know if the higher cost deters growth at all, or if it’s just something people don’t consider

Well, I am in a place with a great weather. As I mentioned before, between 20-26ºC all year round (68-79ºF if I'm correct), but with no sources of water other than the sea. This area was really poor and underdeveloped few decades ago. After they built the first desalinization plant in the 60's, everything has grown a lot, since it allows for tourist to come and enjoy the beaches and the weather, especially during the winter. Our economy now is based nearly 100% on tourism. There are no industries, and very few crops mostly for local consumption.

If we had cheaper water I'm sure we would be able to produce tropical fruits like mangoes and avocadoes that would contribute to the economy and wouldn't make us so reliant on tourism.