For more than a century, the natural supply of sodium nitrate (NaNO 3 ) has been predominantly extracted from the mines of South American countries, particularly Chile. Beyond the geopolitical conflicts it has incited, its diverse applications, from thermal storage systems to fertilizer production , smoke bombs , and food preservatives , highlight the need for efficient recovery processes for this key material . The urgency of developing such processes is further amplified by the fact that the industrial synthesis of NaNO 3 contributes to CO 2 production .