Dimitrius Khaladj, Energy Geosciences Division Postdoctoral Research Scientist, is passionate about energy accessibility. That’s why he came to Berkeley Lab to join a research team studying how to capture lithium in the mineral-rich geothermal brine that is brought to the surface from deep beneath California’s Salton Sea. Through this work that is focused on separating the critical mineral from brine, Khaladj hopes to help find a method of lithium extraction that can help the transition to green energy become more attainable.

How is the lithium project you work on related to climate change?

Lithium is a key element that is needed to make batteries, which can help the U.S. transition towards renewable energy and away from fossil fuels that release greenhouse gasses and heat the planet. And because of that, in the next five years the demand for lithium is going to significantly increase and exceed what we can produce through hard-rock mining and evaporation ponds, which are primarily located outside of the U.S. and have a large carbon footprint. So, what we’re doing is trying to meet the nation’s demand for lithium, but in the cheapest way possible, using a smaller amount of land area and energy. A cheaper technology for lithium extraction with minimal environmental impact is ideal.

How is this way of recovering lithium near the Salton Sea more sustainable?

This region offers a unique opportunity for lithium capture because the mineral-rich brine underneath the Salton Sea is already being brought up to the surface to create geothermal energy. The hot brine cools as it comes to the surface, creating steam that powers turbines to generate electricity. So, if all of this brine is already being brought up at a geothermal power plant, why not just separate the lithium out while we’re at it? This is what we’re researching how to do, because, if accomplished, this extraction method would have a very small carbon footprint compared to conventional methods of lithium extraction, and it would also give us access to a geothermal field that could meet the entire United States’ demand for the element.

As a Postdoc, how do you feel your experience at Berkeley Lab has helped you advance as a researcher?

Well, I can’t really say working at Berkeley Lab has been mundane at all—it’s been a lot of fun. But research is a lot of second-guessing yourself, a lot of ups and downs. You make a really big discovery and everything just clicks, and then you run into a bunch of new challenges. But then you have another discovery and are on top of the world. It’s been great to share these ups and downs with such an exceptional team and know that with every challenge I come across I have access to different experts and perspectives to learn more about how to combat it.