Fujian Normal University Scientists Study How Plant Biomass Can Potentially Reduce Toxicity of Rare Earth Element Mining

Highlights

• Scientists from Fujian Normal University transformed Dicranopteris pedata plant biomass into carbonization materials that remove up to 85% of lead from contaminated water.
• The study offers a potential sustainable solution for environmental remediation and rare earth element recovery through innovative waste biomass processing.
• Research demonstrates a promising method to reduce mining pollution by converting plant biomass into a dual-purpose material for water cleaning and mineral recovery.

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In a groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports (opens in a new tab) on February 22, 2025, lead author Liujun Feng and colleagues affiliated with Fujian Normal University (opens in a new tab) set out to test a bold hypothesis: that biomass from Dicranopteris pedata—a plant known to hyperaccumulate rare earth elements (REEs) in mining areas—can be transformed into a carbonization material (REEs/C) that not only recycles waste but also effectively removes toxic lead (Pb(II)) from wastewater. The researchers collected Dicranopteris pedata from a rare earth mining area and processed it into three different REEs/C samples by heating the biomass at 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C.

Study Design

Using a suite of techniques including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the researchers out of Fuzhou, Fujian meticulously characterized the structural and chemical properties of these materials.

Findings

Their removal tests revealed that the materials prepared at 400°C (REEs/C-4) and 800°C (REEs/C-8) removed around 85% of Pb(II) from the solution, significantly outperforming the 67% removal by the 600°C sample (REEs/C-6). The enhanced performance of REEs/C-8 was attributed to its rich pore structure, abundant functional groups, and increased presence of REEs that formed rare earth oxides and oxygen vacancies—features that boosted its ability to chemically bind and remove lead.

Possible Real-World Implication?

These findings have significant implications for the rare earth element and critical mineral market. By converting waste biomass into a dual-purpose material that cleans polluted water and recovers valuable REEs, the study paves the way for more sustainable mining practices and environmental remediation strategies.  A key lesson the West should contemplate as mining operations outside of China accelerate—part of the push for more resilience.

Constraints

However, the research is not without limitations; it was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions using biomass from a specific region, and further studies are necessary to assess its real-world applicability and scalability.

Rare Earth Exchanges Takeaway

Overall, Feng and his team offer a promising new method that addresses both environmental pollution and resource recovery—a win-win for ecological restoration and the critical mineral industry, which is vital for high-tech applications worldwide. The research also evidences how Chinese academic research centers continue to push the envelop to better understand how to mine rare earth in a more environmentally friendly way.

While still early days concerning this science, Rare Earth Exchanges suggests that the results point to the future potential of using a plant’s biomass, specifically Dicranopteris pedata, as a means of making REE mining more sustainable. The study demonstrated that biomass from this hyperaccumulator plant could be processed into a carbonization material (REEs/C) that not only facilitates the removal of environmental contaminants, such as lead (Pb(II)) but also recycles valuable REEs from mining waste.

This process could help reduce the environmental impact of mining activities by offering a way to both mitigate soil contamination from heavy metals and recover rare earth elements from the biomass, potentially transforming waste into a resource. Utilizing abundant and locally grown plant species to help with both environmental remediation and REE recovery could reduce mining-related pollution and waste while also creating a more sustainable supply chain for REEs. Furthermore, the research suggests that the approach avoids typical secondary contamination risks, such as those arising from other waste treatment methods.

However, its practical application outside of controlled conditions will require further research and scaling to fully integrate it into the REE mining industry. But scientific progress often starts in the lab.