Billions in rare earth elements may be hiding in America’s coal ash

Scientists are looking to diatoms, sea sponges, and plants for a cleaner way to recover rare earth elements and other valuable minerals hidden inside coal ash, red mud, and mine tailings. The bio-inspired approach could turn massive industrial waste piles into useful materials while reducing energy use, harsh chemicals, and reliance on new mining. Billions in rare earth elements may be hiding in America’s coal ash.

Billions in rare earth elements may be hiding in America’s coal ash Science News from research organizations Billions in rare earth elements may be hiding in America’s coal ash Scientists are borrowing tricks from nature to turn mountains of industrial waste into a hidden source of rare earth elements and valuable materials. Yet these enormous waste streams also contain valuable materials, including silica, rare earth elements, and other critical minerals. A research team led by Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has received a $3.3 million award from the National Science Foundation’s Growing Convergence Research program to investigate whether biological strategies used by diatoms, sea sponges, and plants could help recover those resources with less energy and fewer harsh chemicals.

The five-year, two-phase effort is being led by Mingjiang Tao, associate professor in the WPI Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering. Professors Carrick Eggleston and Yan Wang are serving as co-principal investigators. Researchers from George Mason University, the University of California San Diego, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the University at Buffalo will also contribute.

"Recovering critical minerals is only part of the opportunity," Tao said.