Highlights
- West Virginia University successfully extracts rare earth elements from acid mine drainage at a full-scale treatment plant near Mount Storm.
- The EPA-funded project converts environmental waste into critical materials for EVs, batteries, defense tech, and aerospace systems.
- WVU's patented method provides a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional mining.
- The facility processes 800 gallons per minute.
West Virginia University (WVU) continues to make strides in extracting rare earth elements (REEs) from acid mine drainage (AMD), offering a scalable, low-cost, and environmentally viable alternative to traditional mining.
Led by Dr. Paul Ziemkiewicz, (opens in a new tab) the WVU Water Research Institute (opens in a new tab) has deployed a full-scale AMD treatment plant near Mount Storm, WV. The plant processes 800 gallons per minute and yields REE concentrates approaching 99% purity without chemical refinement, reports Metro News West Virginia.
With $3 million in EPA funding, WVU aims to expand refining operations and commercialize rare earths such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, lithium, and magnet-grade oxides critical for EVs, batteries, defense tech, and aerospace systems. The patented method—now implemented across West Virginia and Montana sites with Virginia Tech collaboration—converts environmental waste into a strategic supply. As Ziemkiewicz puts it: “No mines, no permits, no decade-long delays—just clean recovery from an existing problem.”
Rare Earth Exchanges has reached out for a potential interview with Professor Ziemkiewicz.
We will watch the direction of funding from the Trump DoE, which has already reversed the previous DoE LNG focus. Will the RE alt extraction largesse of the previous admin’ continue? We will see, but no doubt it is a question a lot of uni/research lab practitioners are asking after the last 4 years. GLTA – REI