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Lithium removal from drinking water
Citation:
Keithley, A., P. Jordan, C. Muhlen, M. Pinelli, AND D. Lytle. Lithium removal from drinking water. AWWA Water Science. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 7(1):e70016, (2025). https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.70016
Impact/Purpose:
Lithium (Li) is gaining interest in the drinking water community as it is listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5), and its occurrence in drinking water is being quantified under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). The current study evaluated 19 historical pilot- and full-scale studies and conducted single sampling events at 13 water treatment plants. Conventional surface water treatment, adsorptive media, biological aerobic groundwater treatment, and manganese removal filters were not effective at removing Li. Cation exchange and lime softening sometimes achieved Li removal, but removals were inconsistent and rarely achieved high removal percentages. RO removed >90% of Li, although finished water concentrations depended on blending rates. This study fills a critical gap in evaluating Li treatability through existing water treatment infrastructure. The results will be of interest to regulators, water system personnel, and engineers.
Description:
Lithium (Li) is gaining interest in the drinking water community as it is listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5), and its occurrence in drinking water is being quantified under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). Little information is available on its removal from drinking water. The current study evaluated 19 historical pilot- and full-scale studies and conducted single sampling events at 13 water treatment plants. The 32 sites included 3 surface water and 29 groundwater sources. Samples were collected throughout the treatment train. Conventional surface water treatment (filtration, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and disinfection), chlorination only, adsorptive media, biological treatment, manganese removal filters, cation exchange softening, lime softening, and reverse osmosis (RO) were studied. Conventional surface water treatment, adsorptive media, biological aerobic groundwater treatment, and manganese removal filters were not effective at removing Li. Cation exchange and lime softening sometimes achieved Li removal, but removals were inconsistent and rarely achieved high removal percentages. RO removed >90% of Li, although finished water concentrations depended on blending rates. This study fills a critical gap in evaluating Li treatability through existing water treatment infrastructure.
