John Liu pulls lithium from salty water using crop residues
Technology
John Liu, a high school student from St. Paul, figured out how to pull lithium, a key battery material, from salty water using leftover corn stalks and wheat straw.
His project turns farm waste into a low-cost, eco-friendly way to recover lithium, making the process greener and more accessible.
Minnesota gold, Regeneron $2,400, Naval scholarship
Liu's idea earned him the Gold Award at the 2026 Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair and second place in Environmental Engineering at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, along with $2,400 in prize money.
He also received a Chief of Naval Research Scholarship for his work.