Highlights
- Researchers propose converting discarded mine tailings into valuable mineral resources for clean energy technologies.
- Advanced recovery techniques like hydrometallurgical processes and bioleaching show potential for sustainable mineral extraction.
- International collaboration and increased R&D investment are crucial to developing scalable circular economy strategies for critical mineral supply chains.
In the review article “From Waste to Wealth: A Circular Economy Approach to the Sustainable Recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Battery Metals from Mine Tailings**”** authors Mohammed Omar Sahed Chowdhury of Mississippi State University and Deniz Talan of West Virginia University propose a bold hypothesis: mine tailings, long discarded as waste, can be transformed into valuable resources to supply critical minerals needed for the green energy transition. Could transformational recycling technology and processes disrupt the rare earth element and/or critical mineral supply chain?
The study systematically reviews the literature on the recovery of four key minerals—lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements—and examines the latest advancements in separation technologies, recycling methods, and circular economy strategies as reported in Separations (opens in a new tab).
Analyzing data from global mineral production, environmental impact assessments, and emerging recovery techniques, the authors highlight major bottlenecks in the current supply chain, such as the geographical concentration of rare earth oxide production in China, significant environmental challenges in mining processes, and market volatility that undermines economic stability.
The review reveals that while innovative methods like advanced hydrometallurgical processes, bioleaching, and solvent extraction show promise for efficient mineral recovery, the scalability and environmental safety of these technologies remain major concerns, and as Rare Earth Exchanges has reported, in reality, many years away from any sort of economic scale.
Red flags include gaps in comprehensive life cycle assessments and the high capital and operational costs that may hinder large-scale adoption, for example.
Ultimately, the study underscores the urgent need for international collaboration, increased R&D investment, and robust policy frameworks to build sustainable and diversified supply chains. The findings signal that reprocessing mine tailings could recover critical minerals for clean energy technologies and reduce environmental hazards, paving the way for a cleaner, more resilient future in energy production and resource management. As Rare Earth Exchanges has promoted, the United States, for instance, needs a rare earth element and critical mineral industrial policy to accelerate such promising breakthroughs.
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