Liquid metal tin turns desalination brine into a magnesium resource

Researchers propose extracting magnesium from desalination brine using liquid metal tin, turning waste into a resource without conventional mining. Desalination plants globally produce roughly 50 trillion liters of brine annually, more than the freshwater they generate.

• Method uses liquid metal tin to extract magnesium from brine
• About 50 trillion liters of brine produced globally each year
• Brine volume exceeds freshwater output of desalination
• Approach could ease mining demand and waste disposal