“Bioprecipitation of Lithium (White Gold) from Swedish Mining waste Using Salt-Tolerant Marine Microalgae” (BRILiANT)

The BRILiANT project aims to find a sustainable, biotechnology-based way to recover lithium from mining wastewater using salt-tolerant marine microalgae. As the demand for lithium grows for batteries and energy storage, there is a strong need for greener alternatives to traditional mining.

This project studies bioprecipitation, a natural process where marine microalgae like Schizochytrium limacinum SR21 help turn dissolved lithium into solid lithium salts. The focus will be on lithium-containing wastewaters from sources like pegmatite mining, tailings ponds, and old mine drainage, especially in areas rich in minerals like spodumene or lepidolite. The study will optimize environmental parameters (e.g., pH, temperature, ion concentration) and characterize the precipitate using XRD, SEM, and ICP-MS. Operating under mild conditions, this method reduces chemical input and environmental impact. BRILiANT supports the circular use of mining resources, contributes to Sweden’s green transition goals, and lays the groundwork for future collaborations and funding opportunities at both national and EU levels.