Articles tagged with "rare-earth-elements"
Breakthrough method purifies rare earths element with just water
Scientists at IOCB Prague have developed an innovative water-only method to recycle rare earth elements, specifically neodymium and dysprosium, from discarded magnets. This breakthrough offers a cleaner, more cost-effective alternative to traditional recycling processes that rely on toxic solvents and generate hazardous waste. The new technique uses a specially designed chelator molecule that selectively precipitates neodymium while leaving dysprosium in solution, enabling efficient and environmentally friendly separation. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also holds promise for industrial-scale application, supporting sustainable “urban mining” to meet the growing global demand for rare earths critical to technologies like smartphones and wind turbines. The technology, already patented, addresses key challenges in rare earth recycling and could help reduce dependence on geopolitically sensitive supply chains dominated by China. The research team, led by Miloslav Polášek and including doctoral candidate Kelsea G. Jones, is awaiting feasibility study results to transition the method from laboratory to commercial use. Additionally, the study uncovered the
rare-earth-elementsrecyclingsustainable-materialsneodymium-magnetsgreen-technologyurban-miningclean-energy-materialsHow Minor Metals Could Cause Major Electrification Bottlenecks - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights a critical but often overlooked challenge in the global electrification transition: the supply constraints of minor or by-product metals such as indium, gallium, germanium, tellurium, selenium, and certain rare earth elements. Unlike primary metals like lithium and cobalt, whose production can be scaled more directly in response to demand, these by-product metals are produced only incidentally during the mining and refining of major metals like copper, zinc, nickel, and aluminum. This dependency means their supply is inherently tied to the extraction rates and market dynamics of unrelated primary metals, leading to unpredictable availability and price volatility that complicates strategic planning for industries reliant on these materials. Economically, the recovery of by-product metals is marginal and highly sensitive to market prices. For example, zinc refiners will only recover indium if its market price justifies the cost; otherwise, it remains in waste streams, causing intermittent shortages. This contrasts with primary metals, where steady demand typically supports sustained
energyelectrificationminor-metalssupply-chainrare-earth-elementsminingmaterialsWorld’s first EV motor temperature sensor cuts down rare earth use
energyelectric-vehiclestemperature-sensorrare-earth-elementsmotor-performancesustainabilitye-MobilityNew laser crystals boost quantum tech and cut rare earth reliance
materialslaser-technologyquantum-computingrare-earth-elementsoptical-materialsfiber-opticsenvironmental-monitoringEV makers can cut rare earth use by 15% with new design tool: Study
energymaterialselectric-vehiclescircular-economyrare-earth-elementsremanufacturingsustainabilityHồ nước thải có thể cung cấp 40 tấn đất hiếm mỗi năm
rare-earth-elementswastewater-treatmentmining-technologysustainable-resourcesenvironmental-sciencechemical-engineeringresource-extractionHồ nước thải có thể cung cấp 40 triệu tấn đất hiếm mỗi năm
rare-earth-elementswastewater-treatmentmining-technologyenvironmental-sustainabilityresource-extractionchemical-engineeringacid-mine-drainageCritical Minerals Bottleneck Unblocked By Weed (Seaweed, That Is)
critical-mineralsseaweedphytominingrare-earth-elementssustainable-energymarine-resourcesindustrial-farming