(100b) Expanding the critical mineral supply chain with new separation technologies

Rare earth element (REE) supply chains have taken center stage in both technological and political discussions worldwide. With rising demand for energy and defense applications and volatile geopolitics surrounding the sourcing and processing of REEs – the US is pursuing domestic sources to secure our supply chains. While the US has limited domestic primary sources (mines) for REEs, it has plentiful stores in legacy waste from other mining operations (secondary sources). Processing REEs from emerging secondary sources requires a critical look at solvent extraction, the current state-of-the-art separation process, and its applicability to these new, more dilute waste streams. In this talk, I will introduce distinguishing characteristics of emerging REE feedstocks, the successes and limitations of solvent extraction, and lessons learned from translating highly selective ligands used in solvent extraction to other separation processes like adsorption and membrane-based separations.