Development of technology for recovering lithium from seawater by electrodialysis using ionic liquid membrane

Tritium fuel for fusion reactors is produced by reacting lithium-6 (6Li) with neutrons in tritium breeders. This study demonstrates a method for Li recovery from seawater, wherein Li does not permeate from the anode side to the cathode side through an ionic liquid N,N,N-trimethyl-N-propylammonium–bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide. Almost all Li ions remain on the anode side (seawater), whereas the other ions in the seawater permeate to the cathode side through the ionic liquid with an applied electric voltage of 2–3 V.