Researchers have examined a method to extract rare-earth elements from mining waste that could provide the world with a reliable supply of the valuable materials.
Researchers have examined a method to extract rare-earth elements from mining waste that could provide the world with a reliable supply of the valuable materials.
The research, led by Idaho National Laboratory and Rutgers University with support from the Critical Materials Institute, is online and in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics.
Rare-earth elements (REEs)—a class of metallic elements including neodymium and dysprosium—are necessary for the manufacture of many high-tech devices including cellphones, computers and wind turbines.
REEs are difficult to obtain, and the U.S. currently does not produce a domestic supply. This scarcity leaves manufacturers vulnerable to supply disruptions.
Read more at DOE/Idaho National Laboratory
Image: Yoshiko Fujita studies bioleaching at Idaho National Laboratory. (Credit: Idaho National Laboratory)
