Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct.17/ Trend G. Mehdi/
Iranian researchers have managed to invent a new method for producing lithium from saline water; IRNA quoted Mohammadreza Barzegar, the project manager as saying.
The method which has been used for the first time in the world, leads to the production of lithium with 97.99 per cent purity, he said.
Lithium and its compounds have several industrial applications, including heat-resistant glass and ceramics as well as high strength to weight alloys used in aircraft, lithium batteries and lithium-ion batteries.
The method is also cost-effective, since the related technology has been indigenised, he noted.
Just five countries are currently producing lithium, he said, adding that the Iranian method will lead to the production of higher purity products.