Articles tagged with Rare Earth Elements
Disposable vape sales quadrupled in the UK between 2022 and 2023, contributing to e-waste accumulation. The technology contains valuable resources like lithium, but recycling is often difficult due to lack of clear instructions. Experts call for urgent reform of disposable electronics practices to protect the environment.
Chalmers University researchers create a sustainable method for extracting pure gold from scrap using biodiesel and malonamide. This process replaces toxic chemicals and fossil solvents, offering benefits for the metal industry and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Research sheds light on how concentrations of metals used in renewable energy technologies can be transported from deep within the Earth's interior mantle by low temperature, carbon-rich melts. Carbonate melts effectively dissolve and transport base metals, precious metals, and oxidised sulfur.
Researchers have developed a low-tech method to collect rare-earth metals from spent fluorescent bulbs, mimicking lamp components with magnetic field-controlled chromatography. The process recovered 93% of the rare-earth phosphors, paving the way for practical recycling applications and sustainable technologies.
A University of Alaska Fairbanks team is exploring whether seaweeds can absorb rare-earth elements, with the goal of expanding the US supply and finding a low-impact alternative to mining. The project aims to determine if seaweeds can accumulate metals in concentrations that make financial recovery viable.
Researchers have made a significant advancement in the synthesis of β-lactam scaffolds, structural components frequently found in essential antibiotics. The breakthrough uses nickel catalysts to overcome challenges in β-lactam synthesis, enabling more efficient and simplified production of high-value materials.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a method to mix sodium with lithium in high-quality batteries, driving down costs and ensuring the supply. The technique uses a specialized technique to measure energetic stability, allowing for a more stable mixture of up to 20% sodium.
A new study by Duke University researchers reveals that the amount of toxic elements leaching out of coal ash depends largely on its nanoscale structure. The discovery highlights the complexity of coal ash as a material and emphasizes the need for closer examination of fine details within the ash to understand environmental risks.
Scientists discovered that 12 strains of cyanobacteria can passively collect rare earth elements from wastewater through a process called biosorption. This process has great potential for the circular recovery and reuse of rare earth metals in industries such as mining, electronics, and chemicals.
A team of scientists from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf investigated how four different fungal species interact with europium, a rare earth element. They found that fungi like the Split-Gill can bind up to four times more europium compared to other species, and that the binding site and transport mechanisms differ among them.
Scientists have found a way to produce high-performance magnets without rare earth elements, using the 'cosmic magnet' tetrataenite. The discovery could reduce reliance on China's dominant rare earth supply, supporting low-carbon technologies.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have developed a dimethyl ether-driven process for selectively separating rare earth elements and transition metals from magnet wastes. This method significantly reduces energy and product consumption compared to traditional methods.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin created synthetic rocks to study rare earth element formation. The study reveals that fluids containing REEs replace common limestone via complex reactions, shedding light on the mechanisms of rock formation and industrial separation processes.
Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology have developed a novel low-cost method for refining boron using ultrasonication, resulting in 95% pure MgB2 superconductors with improved magnetic properties. This breakthrough could make cheap superconductors a reality soon.
Researchers from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have achieved a breakthrough in using chromium compounds for efficient green-to-blue photon upconversion. This process can expand the use of low-energy sunlight in solar cells and photochemical reactions, reducing environmental impacts associated with rare metal extraction.
Researchers developed an AI-powered model to assess rare-earth compound stability, leveraging machine learning and high-throughput density-functional theory. This framework has far-reaching applications in materials science, including designing new compounds for clean energy technologies and optimizing magnetic properties.
Researchers have found toxic and carcinogenic contaminants in untreated fracking wastewater samples, including organic chemicals and metallic elements. The study provides critical information for regulatory agencies to fine-tune guidelines on safe treatment and disposal of fracking wastewater.
The review article discusses unconventional metal-based materials for electrocatalysis, including s-, d-, and f-block metals. It aims to accelerate research and development of novel, innovative catalyst materials for efficient green hydrogen production.
Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new extraction agent that outperforms current industry standards, enabling efficient separation of rare-earth elements. The technology uses diglycolamide ligands and can separate individual REEs in multiple stages.
Researchers created a new ultra-thin material with quantum properties emulating rare earth compounds. The material exhibits the Kondo effect, leading to macroscopically entangled state of matter producing heavy-fermion systems.
The report reveals that electronic waste generated in the region rose by 50% between 2010 and 2019, with only 3.2% collected and safely managed. The regional e-waste total jumped from 1.7 Mt to 2.5 Mt, with Russia generating the most e-waste.
A new nanotechnology developed by Penn State researchers selectively recovers neodymium and other rare earth elements from electronic waste using plant cellulose. The process is environmentally friendly and can separate neodymium in seconds, making it a sustainable solution for recycling.
A new study describes a proof of principle for engineering Gluconobacter oxydans bacteria to extract rare earth elements from ore in a way that meets U.S. environmental standards. The method is more efficient than current thermochemical extraction and refinement methods, with potential to control the resource and meet domestic demand.
A new imaging technique called single-shot photoluminescence lifetime imaging thermometry (SPLIT) measures temperature in 2D, without contact, and in real-time. This technology could improve photothermal therapy and help detect skin cancers.
A multidisciplinary team at Wayne State University has been awarded a grant to develop alternative sources of rare earth elements critical to advanced military and consumer technologies. The project aims to create a sustainable US rare earth element supply chain and mitigate potential supply disruptions.
A new method uses carbon dioxide, water, and food-grade citric acid to extract rare-earth metals from coal ash without damaging the environment. This technique increases a national resource while making coal ash cleaner and less toxic.
A recent study from Penn State and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has discovered a natural protein called lanmodulin that can recover and purify radioactive metals like actinium. The protein-based approach simplifies the purification process, reduces costs, and enables the production of higher-purity actinium.
A new method developed by Penn State and LLNL demonstrates a promising way to extract and separate rare earth elements from low-grade sources. The protein-based approach separates metals with greater than 99% purity, offering a more efficient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods.
The Army has pledged $5.2 million to Rice University's research on flash Joule heating, a process that turns waste into graphene and other valuable materials. The technology can recover precious metals from electronic waste and toxic metals from contaminated soil.
A new study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers finds that rare earth elements are contaminating Western streams, driven by climate change. The elements can leach into the water from rocks and soil disturbed by historic mines, posing a risk to fish and other aquatic life.
Researchers at Penn State developed a luminescent sensor that can detect and quantify low concentrations of terbium in complex acidic samples. The sensor uses a protein called lanmodulin, which is selectively binding to rare earth elements, and has the potential to help develop a domestic supply of these metals.
Researchers develop simple and efficient method to recover precious rare-earth elements from coal fly ash using an ionic liquid. The process produces a solution rich in rare-earth elements with limited impurities, offering a potential solution for recycling materials from waste coal fly ash.
Researchers synthesized vanadates and vanadites of rare-earth metals to treat polyolephin plastic waste. The process increases gas liberation and changes end product composition, producing light olefins and syngas. This technology may lead to the development of new polymer waste treatment methods.
Researchers at FAU have discovered a way to find previously unknown deposits of rare earths worldwide using fayalite crystals in sediment of granite-like magma. This discovery is crucial for addressing the scarcity of heavy rare earth elements on the global market.
Scientists have discovered rare metals in 24 of 31 products tested, including single-use food packaging and children's toys. The study suggests REEs are ubiquitous and pervasive contaminants of consumer plastics.
A new treatment process recovers higher concentrations of rare earth elements from acid mine drainage (AMD), a significant environmental concern. The two-stage method uses carbon dioxide to extract valuable minerals at lower costs and environmental impact.
A new patented process using ligand-assisted chromatography enables the efficient and environmentally friendly purification of critical rare earth metals. The technology, developed by Purdue University, has successfully shown to separate the metals without devastating environmental effects.
Researchers at WVU are developing a method to create a self-supply of rare earth elements in the US from coal waste. This is crucial due to China's dominant role in global rare earth element supplies, and the US Department of Energy's investment in domestic sourcing.
Researchers at ORNL demonstrated the reuse of rare earth permanent magnets recovered from used computer hard drives in an electric motor. Additionally, scientists tested radiation effects on human cells using organ-on-a-chip technology and analyzed designer molecules to improve bastnaesite recovery for rare earth elements.
Researchers describe a new, rare earth metal hydroxide compound with unique phosphor properties, potentially replacing traditional methods and reducing toxic emissions. The discovery has far-reaching implications for industrial applications and sustainable technology.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that surface polarization in mixed media increases the attraction among rare earth elements. This finding could make rare earth recovery faster, easier, and less expensive. The study's results have implications for separating rare earths as well as other elements and nuclear waste removal.
A $1 million pilot project recovers rare earth elements from coal waste using patented HHS technology. Supplies of essential materials needed to make products like smart phones and windmills are growing scarce.
A promising new iron-based alloy has been discovered that can be used in next-generation cooling technologies, offering a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cooling methods. The alloy's use of magnetic fields to change refrigerant temperature holds potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a new idea to improve proton mobility in rare-earth doped BaZrO3 perovskite-type proton conductors. By creating pairs of oxygen vacancies and rare-earth elements, the team found that this inhibits proton trapping, leading to higher proton concentration around Zr
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have synthesized a powerful new magnetic material containing iron, cobalt, and carbon atoms, which can store information up to 790 kelvins. This material has long-range magnetic order and rivals the properties of permanent magnets, potentially reducing dependence on rare earth elements.
Texas-based Shackleton Energy Company plans to mine lunar water ice and convert it into rocket propellant, with Moon Express also interested in using the resource as fuel. Meanwhile, China is making headway in mining rare-earth elements on the Moon, sparking interest in establishing a human settlement.
Scientists have developed a new family of materials for making household LED bulbs without using rare earth elements, which are increasingly expensive. These materials, made from copper iodide, offer a warm white glow and low-cost solution process, showing significant promise for general lighting applications.
A team from UT Dallas' REVT Laboratory has developed a double-stator switched reluctance machine (DSSRM) that eliminates the need for rare earth metals in electric motors. This technology produces significantly greater power and torque while reducing weight and manufacturing costs, with potential applications in various industries.
The US is largely dependent on foreign sources for rare earth elements, a trend exacerbated by global demand. Dr. Lawrence Meinert highlights the need for domestic development and secure supply chains to mitigate disruptions.
The study highlights the challenges of recycling specialty metals, which are essential for precise technological applications. Improving design for recycling, depositing targets, and financial incentives can enhance metal recovery.
A study found nearly 99,000 tons of rare earth elements available in products globally, equivalent to over 10 years of production. This suggests that REE recycling may offset a significant part of virgin extraction, minimizing environmental challenges associated with mining and processing.
A University of Florida-led study has determined that Titanis walleri, a prehistoric 'terror bird,' arrived in North America from South America 2 million years before the land bridge formed. The team used geochemical analysis to revise the ages of terror bird fossils, finding they were 5 million years old.