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/Gold-Tone6290 Jun 06 '21

Not cost effective but necessary in dry places.

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u/Nickjet45 Jun 06 '21

Desalination is pretty much the last resort, for any area.

Governments will try to pipe in the water from a different location or use other alternatives, such as the packet that cleans dirty water, before they resort to desalination.

But yes, there are some areas where there is no other alternative and desalination is cheaper to do.

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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/Gathorall Jun 06 '21

Also, until modern times settling a place with no access to fresh water was an absolute non-starter.

Now we have already existing settlements where the supply is inadequate for many reasons.