Delithiation and lithiation of LiFePO4_4: Implications for direct Li extraction from synthetic solutions and geothermal brines

The demand for Li is and will be increasing in the future, and the development of a direct Li extraction (DLE) technology from unconventional resources, like geothermal brines, may contribute to a resilient supply in the future. This study investigates the deintercalation from and intercalation of Li in LiFePO$_4$ (LFP) at 25–80 °C, near neutral to acidic pH and the effect of high salinity on the Li extraction performance. The (de-)lithiation is a fully reversible redox process between triphylite and heterosite. Lithium is delithiated from LFP using 0.1 M Na$_2$S$_2$O$_8$ at 42–43 mg/g. The lithiation kinetics increase with temperature, but show a complex relationship to reducing agent (Na$_2$S$_2$O$_3$) concentration. The maximum re-intercalation is achieved in synthetic LiCl + 0.5 M Na$_2$S$_2$O$_3$ solution at 39 mg/g, 25 °C and 7 days, whereas 27 mg/g and 1.3 mg/g Li are intercalated to LFP within 3–4 h in experiments with Bruchsal and synthetic Neustadt-Glewe geothermal brines at 60 °C, respectively. At optimal parameters, >99 % Li are recovered from both geothermal brines in laboratory experiments. This shows that LFP can be used for DLE from geothermal brines under specific conditions in a purely chemical process

Perinatal mental disorders in Switzerland : prevalence estimates and use of mental-health services

Background: Perinatal mental disorders (PMDs) are the most common complication of pregnancy and the first postpartum year. Since PMD prevalence and use of mental-health services by perinatal women in Switzerland are unknown, we analysed existing health statistics. Methods: We used statistics from a large health insurance company, hospitals and freelance midwives. We assessed the annual rates of mental healthcare use in perinatal women (n = 13 969). We ascertained the annual rates of PMD treatment in obstetric inpatients (n = 89 699), and annual rates of PMD records by freelance midwives (n = 57 951). In 15 104 women who gave birth in 2012 or 2013, we assessed use of mental-healthcare before and during pregnancy, and in the postpartum year. For the same sample, we determined proportions of medication and consultation treatments. We used multiple regression analysis to estimate the influence of PMD on overall healthcare costs of mandatory health insurance. Results: The annual rate of mental-healthcare use by perinatal women was 16.7%. The annual rate of PMD treatment in obstetric inpatients was 1.1%. The annual rate of PMD records in the midwifery care setting was 2.9%. Women with PMD use mental health services mainly in non-obstetric outpatient settings. Medication was the most frequent treatment. Primary care providers and mental health specialists contributed almost equally to consultation treatments. PMD during pregnancy raised overall costs of healthcare in the postpartum year by 1214 Swiss francs. Conclusions: Health-system research and perinatal healthcare should take into consideration the high prevalence of PMD. Real PMD prevalence may be even higher than our data suggest and could be assessed with a survey using our model of PMD prevalence

Perinatal mental disorders in Switzerland: prevalence estimates and use of mental-health services.

BACKGROUND Perinatal mental disorders (PMDs) are the most common complication of pregnancy and the first postpartum year. Since PMD prevalence and use of mental-health services by perinatal women in Switzerland are unknown, we analysed existing health statistics. METHODS We used statistics from a large health insurance company, hospitals and freelance midwives. We assessed the annual rates of mental healthcare use in perinatal women (n = 13 969). We ascertained the annual rates of PMD treatment in obstetric inpatients (n = 89 699), and annual rates of PMD records by freelance midwives (n = 57 951). In 15 104 women who gave birth in 2012 or 2013, we assessed use of mental-healthcare before and during pregnancy, and in the postpartum year. For the same sample, we determined proportions of medication and consultation treatments. We used multiple regression analysis to estimate the influence of PMD on overall healthcare costs of mandatory health insurance. RESULTS The annual rate of mental-healthcare use by perinatal women was 16.7%. The annual rate of PMD treatment in obstetric inpatients was 1.1%. The annual rate of PMD records in the midwifery care setting was 2.9%. Women with PMD use mental health services mainly in non-obstetric outpatient settings. Medication was the most frequent treatment. Primary care providers and mental health specialists contributed almost equally to consultation treatments. PMD during pregnancy raised overall costs of healthcare in the postpartum year by 1214 Swiss francs. CONCLUSIONS Health-system research and perinatal healthcare should take into consideration the high prevalence of PMD. Real PMD prevalence may be even higher than our data suggest and could be assessed with a survey using our model of PMD prevalence. Keywords mental disorder, prevalence, perinatal, pregnancy, postpartum, health services, healthcare cos

Lithium in Europa

Aktuell ist die deutsche Industrie vollständig auf den Import von Metallen angewiesen, so auch für das leichteste Metall – Lithium. Die globale Produktion von Lithium ist in den letzten fünf Jahren um 263 % gestiegen, die Bergbauförderung liegt bei ca. 100 kt LCE1 (Stand 2021). Der Bedarf des Metalls für Batterien könnte 2030 laut der EU allein in Europa bei ca. 325 kt LCE liegen. Um diesen Bedarf des Marktes mit zu decken, werden in Europa derzeit verschiedene Lithiumprojekte entwickelt. Diese sehen eine Förderung von Lithium aus konventionellen, magmatischen oder sedimentären Gesteinen sowie unkonventionellen geothermalen Solen vor. Acht dieser Projekte befinden sich in einem fortgeschrittenen Entwicklungsstadium und könnten 2030 dazu beitragen, dass zwischen 40 % und 55 % des Bedarfs an Lithium aus europäischen Lagerstätten gewonnen werden könnten. Außerdem wird an Fördermethoden und Aufbereitungstechnologien geforscht, wie beispielsweise die Lithiumgewinnung aus Grubenwasser ehemaliger Bergwerke oder Produktionswässern aus Erdgas- oder Erdölförderungen. Die Entwickler der Lithiumprojekte in Europa erfahren neben technischen, wirtschaftlichen und genehmigungsrechtlichen Herausforderungen auch Ablehnung durch Bürgerinitiativen. Das Recycling von Lithium, speziell aus Lithiumionenbatterien wird in Deutschland durch verschiedene Förderprogramme des Bundes unterstützt und dadurch wissenschaftlich und technisch vorangetrieben. Dies soll dazu beitragen, dass die Quotenvorgaben für Rezyklate aus einem zukünftigen Rücklauf von Batterien erfüllt werden können. Ohne den nationalen und internationalen Bergbau unter der Beibehaltung und weiteren Etablierung von Umwelt- und Sozialstandards, die weitere Entwicklung von Bergbautechnologien sowie den Ausbau der Recyclingmöglichkeiten wird der Lithiumbedarf in Europa nicht zu decken sein

Perinatal mental disorders in Switzerland : prevalence estimates and use of mental-health services

Background: Perinatal mental disorders (PMDs) are the most common complication of pregnancy and the first postpartum year. Since PMD prevalence and use of mental-health services by perinatal women in Switzerland are unknown, we analysed existing health statistics. Methods: We used statistics from a large health insurance company, hospitals and freelance midwives. We assessed the annual rates of mental healthcare use in perinatal women (n = 13 969). We ascertained the annual rates of PMD treatment in obstetric inpatients (n = 89 699), and annual rates of PMD records by freelance midwives (n = 57 951). In 15 104 women who gave birth in 2012 or 2013, we assessed use of mental-healthcare before and during pregnancy, and in the postpartum year. For the same sample, we determined proportions of medication and consultation treatments. We used multiple regression analysis to estimate the influence of PMD on overall healthcare costs of mandatory health insurance. Results: The annual rate of mental-healthcare use by perinatal women was 16.7%. The annual rate of PMD treatment in obstetric inpatients was 1.1%. The annual rate of PMD records in the midwifery care setting was 2.9%. Women with PMD use mental health services mainly in non-obstetric outpatient settings. Medication was the most frequent treatment. Primary care providers and mental health specialists contributed almost equally to consultation treatments. PMD during pregnancy raised overall costs of healthcare in the postpartum year by 1214 Swiss francs. Conclusions: Health-system research and perinatal healthcare should take into consideration the high prevalence of PMD. Real PMD prevalence may be even higher than our data suggest and could be assessed with a survey using our model of PMD prevalence