Arkansas’ Lithium Economy and How the U of A Will Lead

South Arkansas is home to one of the most prolific lithium supplies in North America — a tremendous opportunity for the state to become a major player in the emerging lithium economy. Leaders including Gov. Sarah Sanders, U.S. Sen. John Boozman and CEOs of energy companies gathered at the recent Arkansas Lithium Summit in Little Rock to discuss the possibilities and efforts already underway.

U of A researcher Erik Pollock served as an expert panelist at the summit. Presenting to more than 700 attendees, Pollock detailed the contributions the U of A can make to the emerging lithium economy of the state.

“There is a strong correlation between the potential needs of the lithium economy and the U of A’s existing research expertise,” he said.

His talk highlighted the leading-edge work being done at the university in fields such as:

• Geosciences, “pulling the signal from the noise in large data sets;”
• Separation science, “using a spectrum of techniques, from electrodeionization to functional membranes to instability driven separations;”
• Materials science, “operating from quantum to nanoscale to production scale;”
• Supply chain and transportation logistics, “creating the opportunities to enhance the economics, the timeliness and the efficiency of the lithium economy;” and
• Artificial intelligence, featuring “an application-driven group whose work spans from the quantum to industrial to economic.”

Pollock, who serves as director of the U of A Stable Isotope Lab and the Trace Element and Radiogenic Isotope Lab, also spoke of the vital contribution university students can make. “The engagement of graduate and undergraduate students in research is an add-on to their education, but more importantly, it creates individuals who are deeply steeped in the technologies of industry,” he said. “And these students, who are here in Arkansas, are work-ready for the lithium economy.”

The university’s contingent at the summit also included representatives from the divisions of Economic Development and Research and Innovation.

To learn more about how the U of A is uniquely positioned to partner with businesses and offer solutions in the emerging lithium economy, visit lithium.uark.edu.