SoylentNews

Phoenix666 [soylentnews.org] writes:

The United States could soon decrease its dependence on importing valuable rare earth elements by extracting it from coal [futurity.org].

Rare earth elements are widely used in electronics, such as smartphones and computers, and in many other industries.

China produces more than 85 percent of the world’s rare earth elements (REEs), and the US produces the second most at just over 6 percent, according to the United States Geological Survey, which estimates worldwide demand for REEs to grow more than 5 percent annually through 2020.

“We have known for many decades that rare earth elements are found in coal seams and near other mineral veins,” says Sarma Pisupati, professor of energy and mineral engineering at Penn State. “However, it was costly to extract the materials and there was relatively low demand until recently.

Original study [doi.org].

Original Submission