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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on New Scientist or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: In Appalachia's coal country, researchers are exploring the potential of extracting rare earth elements from coal mine waste
• This initiative could turn a source of environmental pollution into a valuable resource for various technologies
🔭 The context: Rare earth elements are crucial for a wide range of products, including smartphones and electric vehicles making the current global demand very high, and China almost monopolizes rare earth production
• This research offers an alternative source that also addresses environmental cleanup
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Extracting rare earths from coal waste could offer a dual benefit: obtaining essential materials for green technology and addressing the toxic legacy of abandoned mines
• This approach also avoids the radioactive waste typically produced in traditional rare earth mining
⏭️ What's next: A pilot project in West Virginia is focusing on material recovery from acid mine drainage treatment sites and it aims to demonstrate the feasibility of extracting and concentrating rare earth elements
• If successful, this approach could be replicated, turning environmental cleanup operations into sources of valuable materials
💬 One quote: "Theoretically, you could start producing tomorrow" (Paul Ziemkiewicz, Director, West Virginia Water Research Institute)
📈 One stat: Rare earths, comprising 17 valuable elements, are essential for manufacturing a broad range of high-tech products and the U.S. currently has only one active mine for these elements, underscoring the importance of finding alternative sources
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