A study led by Rice University researchers has found a new method to extract lithium from spent perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyyl substances (PFAS), which have been used in consumer products since the 1940s. The researchers used the fluorine content inside PFAS leftovers to attract lithium from briny water, using it to create new compounds including lithium fluoride. The team was able to collect lithium fluoride at 99% purity and confirmed that the sample was pure enough to enhance the stability and performance of lithium-ion batteries. The new method also incorporated the recovered lithium fluoride into battery electrolytes to monitor battery performance. The study's lead author and a postdoctoral associate, Yi Chang, suggested that the discovery could make it more profitable than other processes.