National Energy Technology Lab looks to secure domestic rare earth elements

Researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) are working on ways to secure a supply of rare earth elements, which are materials used to manufacture many technology devices, including many defense and energy technologies.

U.S. manufacturers use more than 17,000 tons of rare earth elements (REEs) each year for everything from electric cars to mobile phones. However, nearly all of the nation’s REEs are imported from China.

NETL is focused on recovering REEs from domestic coal and coal-related byproducts, which can contain a significant concentration of these valuable elements. Some formations hold greater potential than others for commercial rare earth extraction. For this reason, NETL researchers are coming up with a way to predict REE concentrations in coal and coal-related strata systematically. This will show where conditions are most favorable for REE deposits.

Also, to gain further insight on the ease of extraction, researchers are using advanced microscopy and imaging techniques to identify key REE-bearing minerals in coal-associated rock formations.

Additionally, researchers are investigating the use of environmentally friendly liquids for recovering REEs from sedimentary rock.

The extraction of rare earth elements from underclay deposits shows great promise as a new way of securing a domestic supply. That, in turn, will lead to technological solutions to America’s energy challenges.