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Brown RM, Struhs E, Mirkouei A, Raja K, Reed D. Mixed rare earth metals production from surface soil in Idaho, USA: Techno-economic analysis and greenhouse gas emission assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 944:173945. [PMID: 38876346 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Rare earth elements are crucial for the development of cutting-edge technologies in various sectors, such as energy, transportation, and health care. Traditional extraction of rare earth elements from soil and ore deposits primarily involves chemical leaching and solvent extraction. Environmental-based biological rare earth element extraction, such as bioleaching, can be a promising alternative to mitigate pollution and hazardous wastes. We investigated the sustainability aspects (techno-economic and environmental impact) of mixed rare earth metals production from soil in Idaho, USA. We focused on the bioleaching of surface soil using techno-economic analysis and "cradle-to-gate" life cycle assessment. The system boundary included collection, transportation, bioleaching, and molten salt electrolysis. Our results revealed that the mixed rare earth metals (including Nd, Ce, and La) production costs approximately $10,851 per metric ton and generates 1.9 × 106 kg CO2 eq./ton. Our results showed that most emissions are due to energy consumption during bioleaching. Over a 100-year time horizon ultrasound-assisted bioleaching can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 91 % compared to the traditional bioleaching process by decreasing the organic acid leaching process time and energy consumption. Our work demonstrates that higher solids loading in leaching with biological reactions can promote economic feasibility and reduce chemical wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Brown
- Environmental Science Program, University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, USA; Department of Materials Recovery and Recycling, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, USA.
| | - Ethan Struhs
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, USA
| | - Amin Mirkouei
- Environmental Science Program, University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, USA; Department of Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management, University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, USA.
| | - Krishnan Raja
- Department of Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management, University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, USA
| | - David Reed
- Department of Materials Recovery and Recycling, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, USA
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2
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Abbas K, Zou S, Xu D, Butt KM, Han Q, Baz K, Cheng J, Zhu Y, Kharl SH. Forecasting synergistic pathways between rare earth elements, renewable energy, and product and economic complexities in achieving a low-carbon future. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 365:121578. [PMID: 38944956 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Recent decades have witnessed an unprecedented transformation in the global energy landscape, driven by environmental concerns and the quest for sustainable economic growth. As the world grapples with the urgent need for decarbonization, the utilization of renewable energy technologies with the instrumental role of rare earth elements (REEs) has come to the forefront. However, empirical investigations into their synergistic pathways for product and economic complexities concerning achieving a low-carbon future remain scarce. Therefore, we forecast synergistic pathways between the REE supply, renewable energy, economic and product complexities, and GDP growth using a panel dataset of 11 REE-producing countries from 1990 to 2023. We used Common Correlated Effects and Temporal Causal Models as primary methods to estimate panel long-run elasticities and subsequently forecast mutual causal synergies between the variables. The results indicated that REE supply led to renewable energy and economic growth that further elevated the countries' product and economic complexities rankings. GDP growth increased REE production, economic complexity, and renewable energy directly, and consequently, product complexity and REE production through them. This underscores the positive role of REE production coupled with renewable energy technologies in achieving a low-carbon future based on economic diversification, enhanced industrial capabilities, and technological sophistication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khizar Abbas
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China; College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Shisi Zou
- School of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Deyi Xu
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Khalid Manzoor Butt
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Central Punjab, Pakistan.
| | - Qing Han
- College of Public Administration, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Khan Baz
- School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jinhua Cheng
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yongguang Zhu
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Sanwal Hussain Kharl
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Central Punjab, Pakistan.
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3
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Yu G, Zhang H, Tian Z, Gao Y, Fu X, Sun X. An eco-friendly and high-yield extraction of rare earth from the leaching solution of ion adsorbed minerals. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 473:134633. [PMID: 38772109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Ion-adsorbed rare earth minerals are rich in medium and heavy rare earth (RE), which are important strategic resources. In this article, a novel approach for the extraction of RE from ion adsorbed minerals was developed. Through a comprehensive assessment of their extraction and separation performance, the hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDES) with a composition of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO): dodecanol (LA): 2-thiophenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) = 1:1:1 was determined as the optimal configuration. Under optimized conditions, only RE were extracted by the HDES, while Al, Ca, Mg were not extracted at all. The HDES based extraction obviated the need for diluent such as kerosene, eliminating the generation of impurity removal residues. The RE in the stripping solution could be successfully enriched by saponified lauric acid, achieving an impressive precipitation rate of 99.7%. The RE precipitate underwent further enrichment, resulting in a RE concentration of 176 g/L (REO = 210 g/L). Unlike industrial precipitants such as oxalic acid and ammonium bicarbonate, lauric acid can be effectively recycled, thereby avoiding a large amount of wastewater and carbon dioxide emissions. The obtained RE solution product exhibits high yield and purity, this study provides an eco-friendly and high-yield approach for extracting RE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guisu Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, PR China; College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, PR China; Fujian College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China
| | - Hepeng Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Zhong Tian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, PR China
| | - Yun Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, PR China
| | - Xinyu Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, PR China
| | - Xiaoqi Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, PR China; College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, PR China; Fujian College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
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Imashuku S. Distinguishing xenotime and zircon in ores and estimating the xenotime content for on-site analysis. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 315:124216. [PMID: 38581724 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Estimation of the content of the major minerals containing rare earth element (REE) (e.g., xenotime, monazite, and bastnäsite) to extract metal REEs is a critical task for efficient exploration of mines with REE reserves. X-ray-excited optical luminescence (XEOL) imaging is a promising method for estimating the REE-bearing mineral content on-site. However, distinguishing between xenotime and zircon in ores via XEOL imaging is difficult owing to their similar luminescence colors and intensities. This study reveals that XEOL images of ores before and after annealing at 1300 °C can distinguish xenotime and zircon by investigating images obtained via cathodoluminescence (CL), which is the same phenomenon as XEOL except that it used electron bombardment instead of X-ray irradiation. After annealing, zircon exhibits a luminescence intensity stronger than that of xenotime in the CL images. In these images, zircon corresponds to an area with green luminescence whose CL intensity is drastically enhanced by annealing; in contrast, xenotime corresponds to an area with green luminescence whose CL intensity does not change much. The xenotime content in ores can be estimated from the area corresponding to xenotime in the CL images. The exposure time for CL images, which is comparable to XEOL images, is obtained in 30 s. Therefore, the proposed method can be applied to XEOL imaging and used to on-site prescreen ores before precise quantitative analyses, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, electron-probe microanalysis, or scanning electron microscopy based on automated mineralogy, which require a large amount of time; thus, the adoption of the proposed method can lead to a drastic reduction in the time required to explore mines reserving REEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Imashuku
- Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
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5
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Luo X, Wei L, Liu S, Wu K, Huang D, Xiao S, Guo E, Lei L, Qiu X, Zeng X. Correlation between urinary rare earth elements and liver function in a Zhuang population aged 35-74 years in Nanning. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2024; 84:127426. [PMID: 38579497 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal studies have shown that exposure to REEs can cause severe liver damage, but evidence from population studies is still lacking. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between REEs concentrations in urine and liver function in the population. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study on 1024 participants in Nanning, China. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used to detect the concentrations of 12 REEs in urine. The relationship between individual exposure to individual REE and liver function was analyzed by multiple linear regression. Finally, the effects of co-exposure to 5 REEs on liver function were assessed by a weighted sum of quartiles (WQS) regression model and a Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model. RESULTS The detection rate of 5 REEs, lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), and dysprosium (Dy), is greater than 60%. After multiple factor correction, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Dy were positively correlated with serum ALP, Ce, Pr, and Nd were positively correlated with serum AST, while Ce was negatively correlated with serum TBIL and DBIL. Both WQS and BKMR results indicate that the co-exposure of the 5 REEs is positively correlated with serum ALP and AST, while negatively correlated with serum DBIL. There were potential interactions between La and Ce, La and Dy in the association of co-exposure of the 5 REEs with serum ALP. CONCLUSIONS The co-exposure of the 5 REEs was positively correlated with serum ALP and AST, and negatively correlated with serum DBIL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxi Luo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Liling Wei
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Shun Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Kaili Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Dongping Huang
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Suyang Xiao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Erna Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Qiu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Xiaoyun Zeng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China; Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, China.
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6
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Rybak A, Rybak A, Boncel S, Kolanowska A, Jakóbik-Kolon A, Bok-Badura J, Kaszuwara W. Modern Rare Earth Imprinted Membranes for the Recovery of Rare Earth Metal Ions from Coal Fly Ash Extracts. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:3087. [PMID: 38998170 DOI: 10.3390/ma17133087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
The need to identify secondary sources of REEs and their recovery has led to the search for new methods and materials. In this study, a novel type of ion-imprinted adsorption membranes based on modified chitosan was synthesized. Their application for the recovery of chosen REEs from synthetic coal fly ash extracts was analyzed. The examined membranes were analyzed in terms of adsorption kinetics, isotherms, selectivity, reuse, and their separation abilities. The experimental data obtained were analyzed with two applications, namely, REE 2.0 and REE_isotherm. It was found that the adsorption of Nd3+ and Y3+ ions in the obtained membranes took place according to the chemisorption mechanism and was significantly controlled by film diffusion. The binding sites on the adsorbent surface were uniformly distributed; the examined ions showed the features of regular monolayer adsorption; and the adsorbents showed a strong affinity to the REE ions. The high values of Kd (900-1472.8 mL/g) demonstrate their high efficiency in the recovery of REEs. After five subsequent adsorption-desorption processes, approximately 85% of the value of one cycle was reached. The synthesized membranes showed a high rejection of the matrix components (Na, Mg, Ca, Al, Fe, and Si) in the extracts of the coal fly ashes, and the retention ratio for these Nd and Y ions was 90.11% and 80.95%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Rybak
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Faculty of Chemistry, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Aurelia Rybak
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Industrial Automation, Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Sławomir Boncel
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Anna Kolanowska
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Silesia, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Agata Jakóbik-Kolon
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Joanna Bok-Badura
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Waldemar Kaszuwara
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 02-507 Warszawa, Poland
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7
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Hurtig NC, Gysi AP, Smith-Schmitz SE, Harlov D. Raman spectroscopic study of anhydrous and hydrous REE phosphates, oxides, and hydroxides. Dalton Trans 2024; 53:9964-9978. [PMID: 38809162 DOI: 10.1039/d4dt01086h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REE) include the lanthanides (La-Lu), Y, and Sc which are critical elements for the green energy transition. The REE show a decrease in ionic radii with increased atomic numbers, which results in a so-called lanthanide contraction systematically affecting crystal structures and mineral properties. Here we present a compilation of reference Raman spectra of ten REE sesquioxides (A-, B- and C-type), five REE hydroxides, eight xenotime-structured REE phosphate endmembers and two solid solutions, seven monazite-structured REE phosphate endmembers and two solid solutions and seven rhabdophane endmembers with up to five Ce1-xLREEx rhabdophane solid solutions (LREE = La-Gd). Raman mode assignment is based on a detailed literature review summarizing existing analytical work and theoretical calculations and systematic trends observed in this study by analyzing different REE-bearing solids. The wavenumbers of the main REE-O Raman band systematically increase with decreasing ionic radii forming discrete linear trends within isostructural mineral groups, that can be used to estimate the REE-O mode in other solids with known REE-O coordination numbers. Photoluminescence using 266 nm, 532 nm and 633 nm excitation laser wavelengths for REE-bearing oxides, hydroxides, anhydrous and hydrous phosphates is also presented providing a new framework for identifying REE-phases in phosphate-bearing natural mineral deposits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C Hurtig
- Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, 87801 Socorro, USA.
| | - Alexander P Gysi
- Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, 87801 Socorro, USA.
- New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, 87801 Socorro, USA
| | - Sarah E Smith-Schmitz
- New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, 87801 Socorro, USA
| | - Daniel Harlov
- Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa
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8
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Samal RR, Subudhi U. Biochemical and biophysical interaction of rare earth elements with biomacromolecules: A comprehensive review. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 357:142090. [PMID: 38648983 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The growing utilization of rare earth elements (REEs) in industrial and technological applications has captured global interest, leading to the development of high-performance technologies in medical diagnosis, agriculture, and other electronic industries. This accelerated utilization has also raised human exposure levels, resulting in both favourable and unfavourable impacts. However, the effects of REEs are dependent on their concentration and molecular species. Therefore, scientific interest has increased in investigating the molecular interactions of REEs with biomolecules. In this current review, particular attention was paid to the molecular mechanism of interactions of Lanthanum (La), Cerium (Ce), and Gadolinium (Gd) with biomolecules, and the biological consequences were broadly interpreted. The review involved gathering and evaluating a vast scientific collection which primarily focused on the impact associated with REEs, ranging from earlier reports to recent discoveries, including studies in human and animal models. Thus, understanding the molecular interactions of each element with biomolecules will be highly beneficial in elucidating the consequences of REEs accumulation in the living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi R Samal
- Biochemistry & Biophysics Laboratory, Environment & Sustainability Department, CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751013, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Umakanta Subudhi
- Biochemistry & Biophysics Laboratory, Environment & Sustainability Department, CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751013, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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9
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Vuppaladadiyam SSV, Thomas BS, Kundu C, Vuppaladadiyam AK, Duan H, Bhattacharya S. Can e-waste recycling provide a solution to the scarcity of rare earth metals? An overview of e-waste recycling methods. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 924:171453. [PMID: 38453089 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Recycling e-waste is seen as a sustainable alternative to compensate for the limited natural rare earth elements (REEs) resources and the difficulty of accessing these resources. Recycling facilitates the recovery of valuable products and minimizes emissions during their transportation. Numerous studies have been reported on e-waste recycling using various techniques, including thermo-, hydro- and biometallurgical approaches. However, each approach still has technical, economic, social, or environmental limitations. This review highlights the potential of recycling e-waste, including outlining the current unutilized potential of REE recycling from different e-waste components. An in-depth analysis of e-waste generation on a global scale and Australian scenario, along with various hazardous impacts on ecosystem and human health, is reported. In addition, a comprehensive summary of various metal recovery processes and their merits and demerits is also presented. Lifecycle analysis for recovering REEs from e-waste indicate a positive environmental impact when compared to REEs produced from virgin sources. In addition, recovering REEs form secondary sources eliminated ca. 1.5 times radioactive waste, as seen in production from primary sources scenario. The review outcome demonstrates the increasing potential of REE recycling to overcome critical challenges, including issues over supply security and localized dependency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bennet Sam Thomas
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Australia
| | - Chandan Kundu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Australia
| | | | - Huabo Duan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Sankar Bhattacharya
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Australia.
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10
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Lin G, Wang G, Xiong Y, Li S, Jiang R, Lu B, Huang B, Xie H. High-performance electrosorption of lanthanum ion by Mn 3O 4-loaded phosphorus-doped porous carbon electrodes via capacitive deionization. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 358:120856. [PMID: 38608574 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Transition-metal-oxide@heteroatom doped porous carbon composites have attracted considerable research interest because of their large theoretical adsorption capacity, excellent electrical conductivity and well-developed pore structure. Herein, Mn3O4-loaded phosphorus-doped porous carbon composites (Mn3O4@PC-900) were designed and fabricated for the electrosorption of La3+ in aqueous solutions. Due to the synergistic effect between Mn3O4 and PC-900, and the active sites provided by Mn-O-Mn, C/PO, C-P-O and Mn-OH, Mn3O4@PC-900 exhibits high electrosorption performance. The electrosorption value of Mn3O4@PC-900 was 45.34% higher than that of PC-900, reaching 93.02 mg g-1. Moreover, the adsorption selectivity reached 87.93% and 89.27% in La3+/Ca2+ and La3+/Na+ coexistence system, respectively. After 15 adsorption-desorption cycles, its adsorption capacity and retention rate were 50.34 mg g-1 and 54.12%, respectively. The electrosorption process is that La3+ first accesses the pores of Mn3O4@PC-900 to generate an electric double layer (EDL), and then undergoes further Faradaic reaction with Mn3O4 and phosphorus-containing functional groups through intercalation, surface adsorption and complexation. This work is hoped to offer a new idea for exploring transition-metal-oxide @ heteroatom doped porous carbon composites for separation and recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) by capacitive deionization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanfeng Lin
- Materials Engineering College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Jinshan College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
| | - Guilong Wang
- Materials Engineering College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yongzhi Xiong
- Materials Engineering College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Simin Li
- Materials Engineering College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Rongyuan Jiang
- Materials Engineering College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Beili Lu
- Materials Engineering College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Biao Huang
- Materials Engineering College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Haijiao Xie
- Hangzhou Yanqu Information Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310003, China
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11
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Chen Q, Hong J, Lai G, Yang X, Chen G, Xu N, Li X, Hu K, Chen T, Song Y, Wan Y. What are exposure biomarkers of rare earth elements for the ionic rare earth occupational population? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 345:123499. [PMID: 38350535 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) are widely utilized in industries. However, The specific exposure features of REEs and potential biomarkers of exposure in occupational populations remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the external and internal REEs exposure levels among the participants working in the ionic rare earth smelting plant. For the external exposure, the concentrations of 14 REEs and total rare earth elements (ΣREEs) in airborne particles were significantly elevated in the REEs-exposed versus non-exposed group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the levels of Yttrium (Y), Gadolinium (Gd), Terbium (Tb), Dysprosium (Dy), Holmium (Ho), Thulium (Tm), Ytterbium (Yb), and ΣREEs in urine were higher in the REEs-exposed group compared to the non-exposed group (P < 0.05). Notably, a significant positive correlation was observed between Y in both the airborne particles and urine samples as well as Gd, and the Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.53 and 0.39 respectively, both P < 0.05. Conversely, no statistically significant differences were found in the levels of 15 REEs or ΣREEs in the blood samples between the REEs-exposed group and non-exposed group. Moreover, the concentrations of ΣREEs and 9 REEs in nail samples of the exposed group were significantly higher than those of the non-exposed group (P < 0.05), and the composition ratios of REEs in the nail samples closely resembled those found in individual airborne particles. Therefore, nail and urine samples were proposed to reflect long-term and short-term exposure to ionic rare earth respectively. Exposure biomarkers confirmed by external and internal exposure characteristics accurately provide the situation of human exposure to REEs environment, and have profound significance for monitoring and evaluating the level of REEs pollution in human body. It also provides a vital basis to find out the effect biomarkers, susceptible biomarkers and the health effects of rare earth environment for the future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingfeng Chen
- School of Resource and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China; School of Public Health and Management, Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, 330004, China; Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
| | - Jun Hong
- School of Public Health and Management, Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, 330004, China
| | - Guowen Lai
- School of Public Health and Management, Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, 330004, China
| | - Xiaobo Yang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuangyong Road 22, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Guoliang Chen
- Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, 341000, China; China Rare Earth Group Co., Ltd, Zhangjiang Road 16, Ganzhou, 341001, China; Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Kejia Road 1958, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Na Xu
- Jiangxi Center of Quality Inspection for Tungsten and Rare Earth Products, Huajian South Road 68, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Xuewei Li
- Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Kaibo Hu
- School of Resource and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China; Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Tianci Chen
- Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Yang Song
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yinhua Wan
- School of Resource and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China; Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
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12
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Chen T, Qu N, Wang J, Liu Y, Feng J, Zhang S, Xu C, Cao Z, Pan J, Li C. Effects of different ecological restoration methods on the soil physicochemical properties and vegetation community characteristics of the Baotou light rare earth tailings pond in Inner Mongolia, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:19725-19737. [PMID: 38363506 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32295-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
This study investigated the soil physicochemical properties and vegetation community characteristics of the Baotou light rare earth tailings pond after 10 years of aggregate spray seeding ecological restoration (S1) and ordinary soil spray seeding ecological restoration (S2), and the naturally restored dam slope area without human intervention (S3). The results showed that the vegetation community of S1 was dominated by Caragana korshinskii Kom, and its importance and abundance values were 0.40 and 38.4, respectively, while the vegetation communities of S2 and S3 mainly comprised herbaceous plants. Additionally, the vegetation biomass of S1 was significantly higher than that of S2 and S3 by 215.20% and 1345.76%, respectively, and the vegetation diversity index of S1 was the highest among the three treatment groups. The soil porosity (SP), water content (W), electrical conductivity (EC), and available K were significantly improved in S1, while soil bulk density (BD) was significantly reduced compared with that of S2 and S3. In addition, redundancy analysis revealed that SP, EC, W, and K positively correlate with the biomass, Shannon, Pielou, Simpson, and Marglef indices. Principal component analysis further showed that the comprehensive score of S1 (0.983) was higher than that of S2 (- 0.261) and S3 (- 0.648). Collectively, these findings indicate that appropriate ecological restoration can improve soil structure and vegetation community characteristics, thereby accelerating vegetation restoration, ultimately increasing the stability of the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Chen
- College of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang, 110168, People's Republic of China
- Greesum Ecologi Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266100, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Qu
- Greesum Ecologi Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266100, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinxiao Wang
- Greesum Ecologi Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266100, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaochen Liu
- Greesum Ecologi Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266100, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiao Feng
- Greesum Ecologi Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266100, People's Republic of China
| | - Shilei Zhang
- Greesum Ecologi Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266100, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunying Xu
- Greesum Ecologi Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266100, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiquan Cao
- Greesum Ecologi Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266100, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Pan
- College of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang, 110168, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chunlin Li
- Greesum Ecologi Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266100, People's Republic of China
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13
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Li L, Wang H, Hu J, Fang Y, Zhou F, Yu J, Chi R, Xiao C. Comparison of microbial communities in unleached and leached ionic rare earth mines. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:17511-17523. [PMID: 38342835 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32221-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
The leaching of ionic rare earth elements has caused serious environmental pollution and ecological damage. Microorganisms play a crucial role in soil ecosystems and are one of the most important components of these systems. However, there are fewer studies related to the changes that occur in microbial community structure and diversity before and after leaching in ionic rare earth mines. In this study, Illumina high-throughput sequencing was used to examine the diversity and composition of soil microorganisms on the summit, hillside, and foot valley surfaces of unleached and leached mines after in situ leaching. The results showed that microbial diversity and abundance in the surface soil of the unleached mine were higher than those in the leached mine, and leaching had a significant impact on the microbial community of mining soil. pH was the main factor affecting the microbial community. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Chloroflexi were phyla that showed high abundance in the soil. Network analysis showed that microbial interactions can improve microbial adaptation and stability in harsh environments. PICRUSt2 predictions indicate functional changes and linkages in soil microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyan Li
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China
| | - Haitao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China
| | - Jingang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China
| | - Yun Fang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China
| | - Fang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China
| | - Junxia Yu
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China
| | - Ruan Chi
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China
| | - Chunqiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China.
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14
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Fang X, Xie Y, Cao S, Liu J, Shi Y, Yu L, Zheng T, Liu H, Li Y, Xu S, Xia W. Associations between maternal urinary rare earth elements during pregnancy and birth weight-for-gestational age: Roles of cord blood vitamin D levels. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169222. [PMID: 38081430 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to rare earth elements (REEs) may contribute to adverse birth outcomes in previous studies. Cord blood vitamin D has been suggested to modify or mediate the effects of environmental exposures. However, none has investigated these roles of cord blood vitamin D in the associations of prenatal exposure to REEs with fetal growth. Maternal trimester-specific urinary concentrations of 13 REEs, cord blood total 25-hydroxyvitamin D at delivery, and birth weight (BW)-for-gestational age (GA) were determined in 710 mother-newborn pairs from Wuhan, China. Higher maternal average urinary concentrations of europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), and ytterbium (Yb) across three trimesters, either individually or jointly, were significantly associated with lower BW-for-GA Z-scores and higher odds of small for gestational age (SGA) [β = -0.092; 95 % confidence interval (CI): -0.149, -0.035 for BW-for-GA Z-scores, and odds ratio = 1.60; 95 % CI: 1.14, 2.24 for SGA involved in each unit increase in weighted quantile sum index of REEs mixture]. When stratified by cord blood vitamin D levels, the associations mentioned above persisted in participants with relatively low vitamin D levels (<13.94 μg/L, the first tertile of distribution), but not among those with relatively high levels (≥13.94 μg/L) (all p-values for interaction < 0.05). The mediation analyses taking account of exposure-mediator interaction showed that the relationships between REEs (as individual and mixture) exposure and lower BW-for-GA were partly mediated through decreasing cord blood vitamin D levels. The proportions mediated by cord blood vitamin D levels were 24.48 % for BW-for-GA Z-scores and 29.05 % for SGA corresponding to the REEs mixture exposure. Conclusively, our study revealed that prenatal exposures to Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb were related to fetal growth restriction. Cord blood vitamin D might alleviate toxic effects of these REEs and its reduction might partly mediate REE-induced fetal growth restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingjie Fang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ya Xie
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shuting Cao
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jiangtao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yujie Shi
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ling Yu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Tongzhang Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States
| | - Hongxiu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shunqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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15
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Cao Z, Yang M, Gong H, Feng X, Hu L, Li R, Xu S, Wang Y, Xiao H, Zhou A. Association between prenatal exposure to rare earth elements and the neurodevelopment of children at 24-months of age: A prospective cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123201. [PMID: 38135135 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The increasing consumption of rare earth elements (REEs) has resulted in a considerable risk of environmental exposure. However, the adverse effects of prenatal REEs exposure on children's neurodevelopment are not yet fully recognized. Therefore, we investigated the individual and joint effects of prenatal exposure to 13 REEs on children's neurocognitive development based on 809 mother-child pairs from a large birth cohort in Wuhan, China. Maternal urinary concentrations of 13 REEs were repeatedly measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Children's neurodevelopment [e.g., mental and psychomotor development index (MDI/PDI)] at 24-months was assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant Development of Chinese Revision. GEE and BKMR models were applied to estimate the individual and joint effects of prenatal REE exposure on child neurodevelopment level. After controlling for typical confounders, we observed that exposure to 9 REEs during the first trimester were significantly associated with decreased MDI scores [βs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) ranging from -2.24 (-3.86 ∼ -0.63) to -1.44 (-2.26∼ -0.26)], and 7 REEs during third trimester were significantly associated decreased PDI scores [β and 95% CIs ranging from -1.95 (-3.19 ∼ -0.71) to -1.25 (-2.34 ∼ -0.16)]. Higher quantiles of REE mixture in first and third trimester were associated with decreased MDI and PDI score. Thulium, erbium in the first trimester and cerium, lanthanum in the third trimester accounted most importance to joint effects on MDI and PDI, respectively. In conclusion, prenatal exposure to higher concentrations of REEs during the first and third trimester were negative associated with children's neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongqiang Cao
- Institute of Maternal and Children Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng Yang
- Institute of Maternal and Children Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongjian Gong
- Institute of Maternal and Children Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Feng
- Medical Center of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Liqin Hu
- Institute of Maternal and Children Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruizhen Li
- Department of Child Healthcare, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shunqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Youjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Han Xiao
- Institute of Maternal and Children Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Aifen Zhou
- Institute of Maternal and Children Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
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16
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Saito T, Tanaka M, Nishio-Hamane D. Production of Mn-Ga Magnets. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:882. [PMID: 38399132 PMCID: PMC10889916 DOI: 10.3390/ma17040882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Mn-based magnets are known to be a candidate for use as rare-earth-free magnets. In this study, Mn-Ga bulk magnets were successfully produced by hot pressing using the spark plasma sintering method on Mn-Ga powder prepared from rapidly solidified Mn-Ga melt-spun ribbons. When consolidated at 773 K and 873 K, the Mn-Ga bulk magnets had fine grains and exhibited high coercivity values. The origin of the high coercivity of the Mn-Ga bulk magnets was the existence of the D022 phase. The Mn-Ga bulk magnet consolidated at 873 K exhibited the highest coercivity of 6.40 kOe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuji Saito
- Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba Institute of Technology, Narashino 275-8588, Japan
| | - Masahiro Tanaka
- Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba Institute of Technology, Narashino 275-8588, Japan
| | - Daisuke Nishio-Hamane
- Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8581, Japan;
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17
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Zhang S, Ni S, Zeng Z, Yu G, Huang B, Sun X. A clean process for the recovery of rare earth and transition metals from NiMH battery based on primary amine and lauric acid. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119788. [PMID: 38100857 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
A novel rare earth separation system composed of lauric acid (LA) and primary ammonium (RNH2) was studied. Compared with individual LA and RNH2, the mixed extraction system can significantly improve the extraction and separation ability of rare earth (RE). When LA and RNH2 are mixed in an equal molar ratio, the synergistic coefficient for extracting Nd(III) in the system reaches 136.85. Effective separation of Nd from Co and Ni can be achieved, with the separation coefficients of 1503 and 2762 for Nd/Co and Nd/Ni, respectively. The ion association mechanism of developed extraction system can avoid the generation of saponification wastewater. Thus, the negative impact of saponification wastewater on the economy and environment can be reduced. The extraction system is simple to be prepared and easy to be stripped, which helps to reduce acid and alkali consumption. Application of this extraction system can effectively realize the separation of RE elements La, Ce, Pr, Nd and transition metals Co, Ni, Mn in nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery. This paper provides a new strategy for the development of ionic liquid saponification technology without saponified wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Zhang
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production of Rare Earths, Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, 341000, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China; School of Rare Earths, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, PR China
| | - Shuainan Ni
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China
| | - Zhiyuan Zeng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China
| | - Guisu Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China
| | - Bin Huang
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production of Rare Earths, Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, 341000, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China
| | - Xiaoqi Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production of Rare Earths, Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, 341000, PR China; Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China; School of Rare Earths, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, PR China.
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18
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Dang DH, Kernaghan A, Emery RJN, Thompson KA, Kisiala A, Wang W. The mixed blessings of rare earth element supplements for tomatoes and ferns. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167822. [PMID: 37838051 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) constitute a key group of critical minerals that are strategic for the global low-carbon economy and several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Their expected escalating emissions into the environment from emerging anthropogenic sources can negatively affect natural ecosystems. However, their hormetic effects make these elements effective fertilizers to promote crop production. Here, we investigate the response of tomatoes and ferns to REE exposure (La, Gd, Yb). While ferns were unresponsive to REEs, these elements promote evident benefits in tomatoes, e.g., elevating nutrient uptake, higher photosynthetic capacity and phytohormone enhancement to allocate energy to green tissue and root development. Nevertheless, the non-selective cation uptake incurs risks of accumulating non-essential elements in edible tissues. These evident benefits of REEs on crops support applications in agricultural production systems, create added value to the global distribution and promote better material flow management of REEs as strategic and critical resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc Huy Dang
- School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada; Department of Chemistry, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada.
| | - Ashlyn Kernaghan
- School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
| | - R J Neil Emery
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
| | - Karen A Thompson
- School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
| | - Anna Kisiala
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
| | - Wei Wang
- School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
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19
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Jia YG, Yan Z, Shang L, Chen J. Environmental risk of ion-absorbed rare earth ores: concentration of leaching agent and fractionation of Pb. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:6425-6436. [PMID: 38151558 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31516-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth (RE) is an important strategic resource; however, there has been a growing concern about the environmental problems caused by RE mining, such as ammonia nitrogen pollution and heavy metal pollution. There is a limited research about the behavior of leaching agents and the fractionation of RE and heavy metal during the mining process for ion adsorption of rare earth ore (IRE-ore) in the previously available papers. In this study, (NH4)2SO4 solution, which commonly used in the production of mining IRE-ore, was used as a leaching agent. The adsorption behavior of ore soils on ammonium ions was explored by batch experiments. The adsorption process of IRE-ore on ammonium ions followed a pseudo-second-order equation and was controlled by the kinetics of surface adsorption and intra-particle diffusion; the ammonium ion adsorption isotherm conformed to the Freundlich isotherm equilibrium equation, and the higher concentration advantage made the ore soils possess a higher adsorption capacity of ammonium ion. In addition, the fractionation characteristics of lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), and lead (Pb) in the ore soil during the leaching process were simulated based on the batch and column leaching experiments. The results demonstrated that the exchangeable states of La and Ce in IRE-ore were high, and the exchangeable, carbonate-bound La and Ce were almost all leached out by (NH4)2SO4 leaching agent, while the most of exchangeable Pb flowed out along with leaching agent, and a small amount of leached Pb in the ore soil was converted to iron and manganese oxide-bound Pb and enriched in the direction of migration of the leaching solution, and when the environment (e.g., pH and Eh) changed, this part of Pb may be re-activated. Our research might serve as crucial baseline knowledge for the adsorption of ammonium ions by ore soils, and provide a data reference for reducing the use of leaching agents and developing sustainable technologies for green mining of ion-adsorption RE ores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Gang Jia
- China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Zhenli Yan
- China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Liannan Shang
- China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China.
- Center of Xi'an Mineral Resources Survey, CGS, Xi'an, 710100, China.
| | - Jian Chen
- China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
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Meng X, Zhao H, Zhao Y, Shen L, Gu G, Qiu G. Heap leaching of ion adsorption rare earth ores and REEs recovery from leachate with lixiviant regeneration. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165417. [PMID: 37429479 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
In this work, semi-industrial scale heap leaching of 200 t ion adsorption rare earth ores (IRE-ore) and rare earth elements (REEs) recovery from lixivium was first conducted. Biosynthetic citrate/(Na)3Cit, a typical microbial metabolite, was chosen as the lixiviant to conduct heap leaching. Subsequently, an organic precipitation method was proposed, which used oxalic acid to effectively recover REEs and reduce the production cost by lixiviant regeneration. The results showed that the heap leaching efficiency of REEs reached 98 % with a lixiviant concentration of 50 mmol/L and a solid-liquid ratio of 1:2. The lixiviant can be regenerated during the precipitation process, with REE yields and impurity aluminum yields of 94.5 % and 7.4 %, respectively. The residual solution can then be cyclically used as a new lixiviant after simple adjustment. High-quality rare earth concentrates with a rare earth oxide (REO) content of 96 % can be finally obtained after roasting. This work provides an eco-friendly alternative for IRE-ore extraction to solve the environmental issues caused by traditional technology. The results proved feasibility and provided a foundation for in situ (bio)leaching processes in further industrial tests and production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Meng
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongbo Zhao
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Yu Zhao
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Li Shen
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guohua Gu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Guanzhou Qiu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
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21
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Liu J, Li C, Ma W, Wu Z, Liu W, Wu W. Exploitation alters microbial community and its co-occurrence patterns in ionic rare earth mining sites. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165532. [PMID: 37454857 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The exploitation of ion-adsorption rare earth elements (REEs) deposits results in serious ecological and environmental problems, which has attracted much attention. However, the influences of exploitation on the prokaryotic communities and their complex interactions remain poorly understood. In the present study, bacterial and archaeal communities, as well as ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), in and around REEs mining area were investigated through high throughput sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Our results indicated that mining soil was characterized by poor soil structure, nutrient deficiency, and high concentrations of residual REEs. Oligotrophic bacteria (e.g., Chloroflexi and Acidobacteriota) were dominant in unexploited soil and mining soil, while copiotrophic bacteria (Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota) were more abundant in surrounding soil. Nutrient was the key factor affecting microbial variation and abundance in mining soil. The bacterial community was more sensitive to REEs, while the archaeal communities were relatively stable. As the key members for ammonia oxidation, AOA outnumbered AOB in all the soil types, and the former was significantly influenced by pH, nutrients, and TREEs in mining soil. The microbial co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that exploitation significantly influenced topological properties, decreased the complexity, and resulted in a much unstable network, leading to a more fragile microbial ecosystem in mining areas. Notably, the abundance of keystone taxa decreased after exploitation, and oligotrophic groups (Chloroflexi) replaced copiotrophic groups (Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota) as the key to rebuilt a co-occurrence network, suggesting potentially important roles in maintaining network stability. The current results are of great significance to the ecological risk assessment of REEs exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Liu
- School of Energy and Machinery Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330013, China; Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining & Metallurgy Environmental Pollution Control, Ganzhou 341099, China.
| | - Chun Li
- School of Energy and Machinery Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
| | - Wendan Ma
- School of Energy and Machinery Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
| | - Zengxue Wu
- School of Energy and Machinery Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Weixiang Wu
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310030, China
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22
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Li S, Ji B, Zhang W. A review on the thermochemical treatments of biomass: Implications for hydrochar production and rare earth element recovery from hyperaccumulators. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 342:140140. [PMID: 37709067 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Phytomining is a promising method that employs hyperaccumulators to concentrate metals from various substrates. Many studies on phytomining have been reported in the literature, while how to recover metals from hyperaccumulators has not been well resolved, which is critical for developing a complete phytomining-based metal recovery process. The most straightforward approach is to combust hyperaccumulators and recover metals from the combustion residue. However, the combustion process results in significant waste and carbon emissions. In contrast to combustion, thermochemical treatments can convert the biomass of hyperaccumulators to valuable products, such as biochar, hydrochar, biocrudes, and biogas. Therefore, it is more sustainable to develop a process that combines thermochemical treatments for metal recovery from hyperaccumulators. To achieve this objective, a systematic and comprehensive understanding of product characteristics and metal fate during thermochemical processing is required. In this article, three emerging thermochemical technologies, i.e., microwave-assisted pyrolysis, hydrothermal processing, and microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment, are systematically reviewed in terms of conversion mechanisms, merits, demerits, product characteristics, and metal fate. Significant findings reported in the literature on the effects of operating parameters on product characteristics and metal fate during thermochemical treatment of waste biomass, especially those from hyperaccumulators, were summarized. Due to limited studies on thermochemical treatments of rare earth element hyperaccumulators, this review is expanded to include hyperaccumulators of any metal species. Based on comparisons among the three emerging thermochemical treatment technologies, microwave-assisted hydrothermal pyrolysis is identified as the most promising approach that favors carbon product obtainment and REE recovery from hyperaccumulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Li
- Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Bin Ji
- Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Wencai Zhang
- Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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23
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Malcomson T, Edwards-Yates L, Kerridge A. Tailoring the pore size of expanded porphyrinoids for lanthanide selectivity. RSC Adv 2023; 13:28426-28433. [PMID: 37771918 PMCID: PMC10523133 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra05710k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite increase in demand, capacity for the recycling of rare earth elements remains limited, partly due to the inefficiencies with processes currently utilised in the separation of lanthanides. This study highlights the potential use of expanded porphyrinoids in lanthanide separation through selective binding, dependent on the tailored pore size of the macrocycle. Each emerging trend is subjected to multi-factored analysis to decompose the underlying source. Results promote the viability of size-based separation with preferential binding of larger lanthanum(iii) ions to amethyrin and isoamethyrin macrocycles, while smaller macrocycles such as pentaphyrin(0.0.0.0.0) present a preferential binding of lutetium(iii) ions. Additionally, the porphyrin(2.2.2.2) macrocycle shows a selectivity for gadolinium(iii) ions over both larger and smaller ions. An upper limit of applicable pore size is shown to be ≈2.8 Å, beyond which the formed complexes are predicted to be less stable than the corresponding nitrate complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Malcomson
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL UK
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24
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Su H, Luo C, Jia Y, Wang Z. Study on roof movement law of local filling mining under peak cluster landform. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14715. [PMID: 37679409 PMCID: PMC10485015 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41505-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The strip structure filling mining technology is suggested in response to the environmental issues such as surface subsidence and landslides brought on by the mining of 11,071 working faces in a mine in Guizhou. The mining technology system is studied through indoor testing, numerical simulation, and engineering monitoring. According to theoretical study, the filling strip can be steadily loaded and its value doesn't exceed 10 m when the width of the filling strip and the width of the filling interval are set to be equal. According to laboratory testing, fly ash can replace some of the cement in the cement mixture as a binder to maintain strength while cutting costs. The degree of crystallization gradually distributed into the network in the filling paste of various ages corresponds to its strength when combined with the findings of scanning electron microscopy; The numerical simulation results show that the maximum subsidence of the immediate roof is reduced from 340 to 3 mm from the filling rate of 0 to 100%, the filling effect is remarkable, and the shape of the settlement curve is changed from 'U' to 'basin', then to 'W'; during the local filling mining, the settlement curve of the immediate roof presents a 'wave' shape, and the stress curve of the immediate roof in the middle of the stope is also changed. The peak tension of the coal wall falls synchronously with filling spacing on both sides of the stope. The overall vertical stress below the mountain is larger, and the vertical stress at the top of the filling body eventually shifts from a "saddle" shape to a "inverted U" shape without zero support stress. In conjunction with the plastic zone, it is discovered that the stable bearing of the "filling strip-direct roof" composite structure increases with decreasing tensile and shear damage range of the hollow roof area and both sides of the top of the "filling 3 m interval 3 m" scheme; engineering measurement also reveals that the higher the position of the survey line is, the smaller the displacement is. However, the overall displacement of the strata directly above is negligible, and the greatest displacement is only 10.9 mm, which is consistent with the numerical simulation. At the same time, the displacement beneath the mountain area is too great.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengyu Su
- Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China.
| | - Chang Luo
- Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
- Guizhou Heze Engineering Management Consulting Co., Ltd., XingYi, 562400, Guizhou, China
| | - Yichao Jia
- Key Laboratory of In-Situ Property Improving Mining of Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China
| | - Ziyi Wang
- Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
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25
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Krishna R, Dhass AD, Arya A, Prasad R, Colak I. An assessment of the strategies for the energy-critical elements necessary for the development of sustainable energy sources. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:90276-90297. [PMID: 37273062 PMCID: PMC10241139 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28046-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
There have been several strategies developed to increase the diversified supply of energy so that it can meet all of the future demands for energy. As a result, to ensure a healthy and sustainable energy future, it is imperative to warrant reliable and diverse energy supply sources if the "green energy economy" is to be realized. The purpose of developing and deploying clean energy technologies is to improve our overall energy security, reduce our carbon footprint, and ensure that the generation of energy is secure and reliable in the future, making sure that we can spur economic growth in the future. In this paper, advancements in alternative sources of energy sustainability and strategies will be examined to ensure there will be enough fuel to supply all the future demands for energy. Several emerging clean energy technologies rely heavily on the availability of materials that exhibit unique properties that are necessary for their development. This paper examines the roles that rare earth and other energy-critical materials play in securing a clean energy economy and the development of clean energy economies in general. For the development of these technologies to be successful and sustainable, a number of these energy-critical materials are at risk of becoming unavailable. This is due to their limited availability, disruptions in supply, and a lack of suitable resources for their development. An action plan focusing on producing energy-critical materials in energy-efficient ways is discussed as part of an initiative to advance the development of clean and sustainable energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Krishna
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India.
| | | | - Abhishek Arya
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
| | - Ranjit Prasad
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
| | - Ilhami Colak
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Nisantasi University, Istanbul, Turkey
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26
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Zhao Z, Wang K, Wu G, Jiang D, Lan Y. Adsorption of Sc on the Surface of Kaolinite (001): A Density Functional Theory Study. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:5349. [PMID: 37570051 PMCID: PMC10419994 DOI: 10.3390/ma16155349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
The adsorption behavior of Sc on the surface of kaolinite (001) was investigated using the density functional theory via the generalized gradient approximation plane-wave pseudopotential method. The highest coordination numbers of hydrated Sc3+, ScOH2+, and ScOH2 + species are eight, six, and five, respectively. The adsorption model was based on ScOH2H2O5+, which has the most stable ionic configuration in the liquid phase. According to the adsorption energy and bonding mechanism, the adsorption of Sc ionic species can be categorized into outer layer and inner layer adsorptions. We found that the hydrated Sc ions were mainly adsorbed on the outer layer of the kaolinite (001)Al-OH and (00-1)Si-O surfaces through hydrogen bonding while also being adsorbed on the inner layer of the deprotonated kaolinite (001)Al-OH surface through coordination bonding. The inner layer adsorption has three adsorption configurations, with the lying hydroxyl group (Ol) position having the lowest adsorption energy (-653.32 KJ/mol). The adsorption energy for the inner layer is lower compared to the outer layer, while the extent of deprotonation is limited. This is because the deprotonation of the inner adsorption layer is energetically unfavorable. We speculate that Sc ions species predominantly adsorb onto the surface of kaolinite (001) in an outer layer configuration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zilong Zhao
- School of Materials and Energy, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Z.Z.); (K.W.); (G.W.)
| | - Kaiyu Wang
- School of Materials and Energy, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Z.Z.); (K.W.); (G.W.)
| | - Guoyuan Wu
- School of Materials and Energy, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Z.Z.); (K.W.); (G.W.)
| | - Dengbang Jiang
- Green Preparation Technology of Biobased Materials National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yaozhong Lan
- School of Materials and Energy, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Z.Z.); (K.W.); (G.W.)
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27
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Krasavtseva EA, Maksimova V, Makarov D. Influence of Reagents on Qualitative Indicators of Artificial Anti-Deflationary Phytocenosis on Waste from a Rare Earth Tailing Facility. TOXICS 2023; 11:629. [PMID: 37505594 PMCID: PMC10383936 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents an assessment of the effect of various reagents on the qualitative indicators of anti-deflationary single-species sowing phytocenosis on enrichment waste from rare earth ores. It has been established that tailings of loparite ores are not suitable for biological reclamation due to low values of hygroscopic moisture (0.54-2.85%) and clay particles (17.6 ± 0.6%) and high content of bioavailable forms of aluminum (504 ± 14 mg/kg). Seeds of red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) were grown on the tailings of loparite ore enrichment with the addition of opoka (O), brucite (B), and vermiculite (V). The quality of the seed cenosis was assessed by the dry biomass of the above-ground parts of the plants and the plant height. A positive effect (one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's HSD test (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01)) of the considered combinations of reagents on the growth of above-ground biomass from 31.5% (V) to 70.3 (V + O), 82.4% (V + B), and 81.8% (V + O+B) and on plant height from 53.8% (V) up to 78.6 (V + O), 83.8% (V + B), and 75.4% (V + O+B) was revealed. The use of a combination of V + O and V + B reagents made it possible to significantly reduce the content of Al (by 19.0% and 52.8%), Sr (by 16.5% and 12.9%), La (by 65.2% and 40.6%), and Ce (by 66.8% and 41.9%) in the aerial part of the sowing phytocenosis compared to control. The results obtained here can become the basis for development of a combined sorption technology for the reclamation of technogenically disturbed lands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia A Krasavtseva
- Laboratory of Nature-Inspired Technologies and Environmental Safety of the Arctic, Kola Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Fersman St., 14, 184209 Apatity, Russia
- Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems, Kola Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Fersman St., 14a, 184209 Apatity, Russia
| | - Victoria Maksimova
- Laboratory of Nature-Inspired Technologies and Environmental Safety of the Arctic, Kola Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Fersman St., 14, 184209 Apatity, Russia
- Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems, Kola Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Fersman St., 14a, 184209 Apatity, Russia
| | - Dmitriy Makarov
- Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems, Kola Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Fersman St., 14a, 184209 Apatity, Russia
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28
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Kang X, Csetenyi L, Gadd GM. Fungal biorecovery of cerium as oxalate and carbonate biominerals. Fungal Biol 2023; 127:1187-1197. [PMID: 37495308 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cerium is the most sought-after rare earth element (REE) for application in high-tech electronic devices and versatile nanomaterials. In this research, biomass-free spent culture media of Aspergillus niger and Neurospora crassa containing precipitant ligands (oxalate, carbonate) were investigated for their potential application in biorecovery of Ce from solution. Precipitation occurred after Ce3+ was mixed with biomass-free spent culture media and >99% Ce was recovered from media of both organisms. SEM showed that biogenic crystals with distinctive morphologies were formed in the biomass-free spent medium of A. niger. Irregularly-shaped nanoparticles with varying sizes ranging from 0.5 to 2 μm and amorphous biominerals were formed after mixing the carbonate-laden N. crassa supernatant, resulting from ureolysis of supplied urea, with Ce3+. Both biominerals contained Ce as the sole metal, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analyses identified the biominerals resulting from the biomass-free A. niger and N. crassa spent media as cerium oxalate decahydrate [Ce2(C2O4)3·10H2O] and cerium carbonate [Ce2(CO3)3·8H2O], respectively. Thermal decomposition experiments showed that the biogenic Ce oxalates and carbonates could be subsequently transformed into ceria (CeO2). FTIR confirmed that both amorphous and nanoscale Ce carbonates contained carbonate (CO32-) groups. FTIR-multivariate analysis could classify the biominerals into three groups according to different Ce concentrations and showed that Ce carbonate biominerals of higher purity were produced when precipitated at higher Ce3+ concentrations. This work provides new understanding of fungal biotransformations of soluble REE species and their biorecovery using biomass-free fungal culture systems and indicates the potential of using recovered REE as precursors for the biosynthesis of novel nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Kang
- Geomicrobiology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom; Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Laszlo Csetenyi
- Concrete Technology Group, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Geoffrey Michael Gadd
- Geomicrobiology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom; State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Pollution Control, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum, 18 Fuxue Road, Changping District, Beijing, 102249, China.
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29
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Wang M, Wu S, Lu Y, Wu H, Si D, Zhou D. Combined application of strong alkaline materials and specific organic fertilizer accelerates nitrification process of a rare earth mining soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163042. [PMID: 36965722 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The extensive usage of ammonium sulfate as the leaching agent to extract rare earth elements led to widespread ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) pollution in the tailing soils of ion-adsorbed rare earth deposits in southern China. However, the cost-effective technologies to tackle with the long-term retention of NH4+-N in the rare earth mining soil have been largely unresolved. In this study, we developed a cost-effective approach to activate soil nitrification by the co-application of alkaline materials and organic fertilizer. The co-application of 0.3 % of organic fertilizer and 0.1 % ∼ 0.2 % of CaO or MgO or Mg(OH)2 stimulated a soil NH4+-N decrease rate of 2.01-7.58 mg kg-1 d-1 and a soil NO3--N accumulation rate of 1.56-7.09 mg kg-1 d-1. Noting that only if the soil pH was elevated to 7.81-9.00, the NH4+-N decrease rate and NO3--N accumulation rate were dependent on the proton consumption capacity of the alkaline materials. The application of CaCO3 could not stimulate soil nitrification possibly due to the soil pH was uncapable to be elevated to above 7.68. The qPCR, amplicon sequencing, and nitrification inhibitor batch incubation results demonstrated that organic fertilizer supplied active ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas europaea. The proliferation of Nitrosomonas europaea in the alkaline materials and organic fertilizer co-applied soil was responsible for the soil nitrification. Furthermore, the application of commercial denitrifying bacteria inoculum promoted the removal of accumulated NO3--N. The findings of this study provide a lost-cost technology to remove NH4+-N from the rare earth mining soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Song Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yilin Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Haotian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Dunfeng Si
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Dongmei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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30
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Pinto J, Colónia J, Abdolvaseei A, Vale C, Henriques B, Pereira E. Algal sorbents and prospects for their application in the sustainable recovery of rare earth elements from E-waste. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27767-8. [PMID: 37227641 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27767-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Efficient and sustainable secondary sourcing of Rare-Earth Elements (REE) is essential to counter supply bottlenecks and the impacts associated with primary mining. Recycled electronic waste (E-waste) is considered a promising REE source and hydrometallurgical methods followed by chemical separation techniques (usually solvent extraction) have been successfully applied to these wastes with high REE yields. However, the generation of acidic and organic waste streams is considered unsustainable and has led to the search for "greener" approaches. Sorption-based technologies using biomass such as bacteria, fungi and algae have been developed to sustainably recover REE from e-waste. Algae sorbents in particular have experienced growing research interest in recent years. Despite its high potential, sorption efficiency is strongly influenced by sorbent-specific parameters such as biomass type and state (fresh/dried, pre-treatment, functionalization) as well as solution parameters such as pH, REE concentration, and matrix complexity (ionic strength and competing ions). This review highlights differences in experimental conditions among published algal-based REE sorption studies and their impact on sorption efficiency. Since research into algal sorbents for REE recovery from real wastes is still in its infancy, aspects such as the economic viability of a realistic application are still unexplored. However, it has been proposed to integrate REE recovery into an algal biorefinery concept to increase the economics of the process (by providing a range of additional products), but also in the prospect of achieving carbon neutrality (as large-scale algae cultivation can act as a CO2 sink).
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pinto
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- LAQV-REQUIMTE - Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João Colónia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | - Carlos Vale
- CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Bruno Henriques
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
- LAQV-REQUIMTE - Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Eduarda Pereira
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- LAQV-REQUIMTE - Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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31
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Liu P, Zhao S, Xie N, Yang L, Wang Q, Wen Y, Chen H, Tang Y. Green Approach for Rare Earth Element (REE) Recovery from Coal Fly Ash. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:5414-5423. [PMID: 36942728 PMCID: PMC10077585 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Due to the growing demands of rare earth elements (REEs) and the vulnerability of REEs to potential supply disruption, there have been increasing interests in recovering REEs from waste streams such as coal fly ash (CFA). Meanwhile, CFA as a large industrial waste stream in the United States (U.S.) poses significant environmental and economic burdens. Recovery of REEs from CFA is a promising solution to the REE scarcity issue and also brings opportunities for CFA management. This study demonstrates a green system for REE recovery from Class F and C CFA that consists of three modules: REE leaching using citrate, REE separation and concentration using oxalate, and zeolite synthesis using secondary wastes from Modules I and II. In Module I, ∼10 and 60% REEs were leached from the Class F and C CFA samples, respectively, using citrate at pH 4. In Module II, the addition of oxalate selectively precipitated and concentrated REEs from the leachate via the formation of weddellite (CaC2O4·2H2O), while other trace metals remained in solution. In Module III, zeolite was synthesized using wastes from Modules I and II. This study is characterized by the successful recovery of REEs and upcycling of secondary wastes, which addresses both REE recovery and CFA management challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Liu
- School
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia
Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Simin Zhao
- School
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia
Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Nan Xie
- School
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia
Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Lufeng Yang
- Woodruff
School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia
Institute of Technology, 771 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Qian Wang
- School
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia
Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Yinghao Wen
- School
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia
Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Hailong Chen
- Woodruff
School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia
Institute of Technology, 771 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Yuanzhi Tang
- School
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia
Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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32
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Ye Q, Jin X, Zhu B, Gao H, Wei N. Lanmodulin-Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles as a Highly Selective Biosorbent for Recovery of Rare Earth Elements. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4276-4285. [PMID: 36790366 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Recovering rare earth elements (REEs) from waste streams represents a sustainable approach to diversify REE supply while alleviating the environmental burden. However, it remains a critical challenge to selectively separate and concentrate REEs from low-grade waste streams. In this study, we developed a new type of biosorbent by immobilizing Lanmodulin-SpyCatcher (LanM-Spycatcher) on the surface of SpyTag-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) for selective separation and recovery of REEs from waste streams. The biosorbent, referred to as MNP-LanM, had an adsorption activity of 6.01 ± 0.11 μmol-terbium/g-sorbent and fast adsorption kinetics. The adsorbed REEs could be desorbed with >90% efficiency. The MNP-LanM selectively adsorbed REEs in the presence of a broad range of non-REEs. The protein storage stability of the MNP-LanM increased by two-fold compared to free LanM-SpyCatcher. The MNP-LanM could be efficiently separated using a magnet and reused with high stability as it retained ∼95% of the initial activity after eight adsorption-desorption cycles. Furthermore, the MNP-LanM selectively adsorbed and concentrated REEs from the leachate of coal fly ash and geothermal brine, resulting in 967-fold increase of REE purity. This study provides a scientific basis for developing innovative biosorptive materials for selective and efficient separation and recovery of REEs from low-grade feedstocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanhui Ye
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 3221 Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Xiuyu Jin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 3221 Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Baotong Zhu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Haifeng Gao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Na Wei
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 3221 Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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Cheng S, Li W, Han Y, Sun Y, Gao P, Zhang X. Recent process developments in beneficiation and metallurgy of rare earths: A review. J RARE EARTH 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jre.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
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Liu Y, Song L, Wu M, Bi J, Wang L, Liu Q, Xiong C, Cao Z, Xu S, Wang Y. Association between rare earth element exposure during pregnancy and newborn telomere length. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:38751-38760. [PMID: 36586020 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24958-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is considered a marker of biological aging and lifetime health, and some epidemiological studies report that the environmental exposures may influence TL at birth. We aimed to investigate the associations between prenatal rare earth elements (REE) exposure and newborn TL. A total of 587 mother-newborn pairs were recruited during 2013 to 2015 in Wuhan, China. Maternal urinary concentrations of REE collected during three trimesters were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure relative cord blood TL. The trimester-specific associations between prenatal REE exposure and cord blood TL were evaluated using multiple informant models. Weighted quantile sum regression was used to estimate the mixture effect of urinary REE on cord blood TL. After adjustment for potential confounders, per doubling of urinary REE (Dy, Yb, Pr, Nd, and Tm) concentrations (μg/g creatinine) during the second trimester was respectively associated with 1.94% (95% CI 0.19%, 3.72%), 2.10% (95% CI 0.31%, 3.92%), 2.11% (95% CI 0.35%, 3.89%), 2.08% (95% CI 0.01%, 4.20%), and 1.38% (95% CI 0.09%, 2.70%) increase in cord blood TL. Furthermore, exposure to the mixture of REE during the second trimester was also significantly associated with increased cord blood TL (percent change 1.20%, 95% CI 0.30%, 2.11%). However, these associations were not statistically significant in the first and third trimesters. This study provides new evidence on the potential effect of prenatal REE exposure on the initial (newborn) setting of offspring's telomere biology. Further epidemiological studies are warranted to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyun Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Department of Clinical and Public Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lulu Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mingyang Wu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jianing Bi
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lulin Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chao Xiong
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhongqiang Cao
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shunqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Youjie Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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35
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Dang DH, Wang W, Winkler G, Chatzis A. Rare earth element uptake mechanisms in plankton in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 860:160394. [PMID: 36427738 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The global shift toward green energy alternatives escalates demands for new resources, including rare earth elements (REEs), as per their implications in various green innovations. However, our understanding of their environmental cycle, especially the interactions with aquatic organisms, remains deficient, ultimately hindering environmental protection efforts. Here, we investigate the accumulation of REEs and 18 other elements in bulk and sorted plankton collected with different net mesh sizes (30, 63, 200, 333, 500 μm) in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in the summer and winter of 2020. We observed significant correlations between the concentrations of REEs and elements of different charge numbers and ionic radii (Ba, Co, Cs, Fe, Mn, Pb, Rb and V), indicating non-selective uptake of REEs into plankton. All these elements have their highest concentrations in the fluvial corridor and upper estuary, with more significant enrichment in phytoplankton ([La] = 26.4 ± 4.8 mg kg-1) than zooplankton ([La] = 11.6 ± 8.3 mg kg-1). Their concentrations decrease to the minimum in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, especially in zooplankton ([La] = 4.8 × 10-2 ± 3.2 × 10-2 mg kg-1). We also assessed REE patterns to identify differential REE fractionation processes and anomalies. The freshwater plankton exhibits enrichment of middle REEs (MREEs) relative to the light and heavy REEs (LREEs and HREEs), potentially because of the higher binding affinity of MREEs on cellular surface transporters and metal loading effects. In estuarine and marine settings, the REE patterns in biological samples align with suspended particles, exhibiting a linear trend with LREE enrichment. This process is more noticeable in sorted macrozooplankton, which have significant Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* up to 2), indicating differential incorporation of REEs into the chitin shells. This study highlights the significant enrichment of REEs into freshwater primary producers and the accumulation pathway similar to other inorganic elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc Huy Dang
- School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada; Department of Chemistry and Water Quality Center, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada.
| | - Wei Wang
- School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
| | - Gesche Winkler
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Canada
| | - Anique Chatzis
- School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
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36
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Determination of the trace elements, radionuclides and REEs in the Brazilian stone waste and evaluation of sustainable use. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-023-08807-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
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37
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Alsulami A, Kumarswamy YK, Prashanth MK, Hamzada S, Lakshminarayana P, Pradeep Kumar CB, Jeon BH, Raghu MS. Fabrication of FeVO 4/RGO Nanocomposite: An Amperometric Probe for Sensitive Detection of Methyl Parathion in Green Beans and Solar Light-Induced Degradation. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:45239-45252. [PMID: 36530306 PMCID: PMC9753511 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c05729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Pesticide usage is one of the significant issues in modern agricultural practices; hence, monitoring pesticide content and its degradation is of utmost importance. A novel and simple one-pot deep eutectic solvent-based solvothermal method has been developed for the synthesis of FeVO4/reduced graphene oxide (FeV/RGO) nanocomposite. The band gap of FeV decreased upon anchoring with RGO. Enhanced activity in the detection and photocatalytic degradation has been achieved in the FeV/RGO nanocomposite compared to pure FeV and RGO. FeV/RGO was used to modify glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and the fabricated electrode was evaluated for its electrochemical detection of methyl parathion (MP). The amperometric technique was found to be more sensitive with a 0.001-260 μM (two linear ranges; 0.001-20 and 25-260 μM) wide linear range and low limit of detection value (0.70 nM). The practical applicability of modified GCE is more selective and sensitive to real samples like river water and green beans. Photocatalytic degradation of MP has been examined using FeV, RGO, and FeV/RGO nanocomposite. FeV/RGO managed to degrade 95% of MP under solar light in 80 min. Degradation parameters were optimized carefully to attain maximum efficiency. Degradation intermediates were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The degradation mechanism has been studied in detail. FeV/RGO could serve as a material of choice in the field of electrochemical sensors as well as heterogeneous catalysis toward environmental remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Alsulami
- Department
of Physics, College of Sciences and Arts at ArRass, Qassim University, ArRass51921, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yogesh K. Kumarswamy
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Jain University, Bangalore562112, India
| | | | - Shanavaz Hamzada
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Jain University, Bangalore562112, India
| | | | | | - Byong-Hun Jeon
- Department
of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Madihalli S. Raghu
- Department
of Chemistry, New Horizon College of Engineering, Outer Ring Road, Bangalore560103, India
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38
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Loading capacity and emulsification phenomena of HREE extraction by dialkylphosphinic acids with different β,γ,δ-substituents. J RARE EARTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jre.2022.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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39
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Fan J, Deng L, Wang W, Yi X, Yang Z. Contamination, Source Identification, Ecological and Human Health Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic-Elements in Soils of Typical Rare-Earth Mining Areas. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15105. [PMID: 36429823 PMCID: PMC9690513 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The mining and leaching processes of rare-earth mines can include the entry of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) into the environment, causing ecological risks and endangering human health. However, the identification of ecological risks and sources of PTEs in rare-earth mining areas is less comprehensive. Hence, we determine the PTE (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, V) content in soils around rare-earth mining areas in the south and analyze the ecological health risks, distribution characteristics, and sources of PTEs in the study area using various indices and models. The results showed that the average concentrations of Co, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were higher than the soil background values, with a maximum of 1.62 times. The spatial distribution of PTEs was not homogeneous and the hot spots were mostly located near roads and mining areas. The ecological risk index and the non-carcinogenic index showed that the contribution was mainly from Co, Pb, and Cr, which accounted for more than 90%. Correlation analysis and PMF models indicated that eight PTEs were positively correlated, and rare-earth mining operations (concentration of 22.85%) may have caused Pb and Cu enrichment in soils in the area, while other anthropogenic sources of pollution were industrial emissions and agricultural pollution. The results of the study can provide a scientific basis for environmental-pollution assessment and prevention in rare-earth mining cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Fan
- Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
| | - Li Deng
- Ecological Environment Planning and Environmental Protection Technology Center of Qinghai Province, Xining 810007, China
| | - Weili Wang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xiu Yi
- Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
| | - Zhiping Yang
- Jiangxi Research Academy of Ecological Civilization, Nanchang 330036, China
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Alexandre-Franco MF, Fernández-González C, Reguero-Padilla G, Cuerda-Correa EM. Olive-tree polyphenols and urban mining. A greener alternative for the recovery of valuable metals from scrap printed circuit boards. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:114112. [PMID: 36007571 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recycling printed circuit boards (PCBs) is becoming a source of precious metals and an alternative to conventional mining. This phenomenon is now known as "urban mining." In this work, a polyphenols-rich plant extract has been obtained from olive-tree leaves, and its ability to contribute to reducing four metals, namely, Ag, Cu, Cr, and Sn, that are present in scrap PCBs has been studied. Three reductants (NaBH4, Fe°, and the olive-tree leaves extract) have been used to recover these valuable metals. An attempt has been made to minimize the concentration of the first two, replacing them with a natural, cheaper, and less toxic reductant. To achieve this goal, a computer-assisted factorial, composed, centered, orthogonal, and rotatable statistical design of experiments (FCCORD) has been used to build the experimental matrix to be carried out in the laboratory and, next, for the statistical treatment of the results. The results show that it is possible to achieve only a partial recovery of the four metals (silver, copper, chromium, and tin) from PCBs leachates by using sodium borohydride, iron, and the extract separately. In other words, none of these three reductants alone can completely remove any of the four metals in the leachate. Nevertheless, using the statistical design of experiments, the total recovery of the four metals has been achieved by combining the three reductants in the appropriate concentrations. Hence, polyphenols-rich plant extracts in general and olive-tree leaves extract in particular can be regarded as promising coadjuvants in the rising field of urban mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- María F Alexandre-Franco
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas S/n, 06006-Badajoz, Spain
| | - Carmen Fernández-González
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas S/n, 06006-Badajoz, Spain
| | - Gemma Reguero-Padilla
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas S/n, 06006-Badajoz, Spain
| | - Eduardo M Cuerda-Correa
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas S/n, 06006-Badajoz, Spain.
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41
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Selective recovery of rare earth elements from e-waste via ionic liquid extraction: A review. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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42
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Han X, Wang L, Wang Y, Yang J, Wan X, Liang T, Song H, Elbana TA, Rinklebe J. Mechanisms and influencing factors of yttrium sorption on paddy soil: Experiments and modeling. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135688. [PMID: 35843430 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
High-technology rare earth elements (REEs) as emerging contaminants have potentially hazardous risks for human health and the environment. Investigating the sorption of REEs on soils is crucial for understanding their migration and transformation. This study evaluated the sorption mechanisms and influencing factors of the rare earth element yttrium (Y) on paddy soil via integrated batch sorption experiments and theoretical modeling analysis. Site energy distribution theory (SEDT) combined with kinetics, thermodynamics, and isotherm sorption models were applied to illustrate the sorption mechanism. In addition, the effects of phosphorus (P), solution pH, particle size of soil microaggregates, and initial Y content on the sorption processes were evaluated by self-organizing map (SOM) and Boruta algorithm. The sorption kinetic behavior of Y on paddy soil was more consistent with the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic results showed that the Y sorption was a spontaneous endothermic reaction. The generalized Langmuir model well described the isotherm data of Y sorption on heterogeneous paddy soil and soil microaggregates surface. The maximum sorption capacity of Y decreased with increasing soil particle size, which may be related to the number of sorption sites for Y on paddy soil and soil microaggregates, as confirmed by SEDT. The heterogeneity of sorption site energy for Y was the highest in the original paddy soil compared with the separated soil microaggregates. The SOM technique and Boruta algorithm highlighted that the initial concentration of Y and coexisting phosphorus played essential roles in the sorption process of Y, indicating that the addition of phosphate fertilizer may be an effective way to reduce the Y bioavailability in paddy soil in practice. These results can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management of soil REEs and a theoretical foundation for the remediation of REEs-contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Han
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lingqing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany.
| | - Yong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaoming Wan
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Tao Liang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hocheol Song
- Department of Environment, Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Tamer A Elbana
- Soils and Water Use Dept, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt; School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La, USA
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- Department of Environment, Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea; University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany.
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Kaikkonen L, Virtanen EA. Shallow-water mining undermines global sustainability goals. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:931-934. [PMID: 36114051 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Coastal mineral resources are promoted as a sustainable option to meet increasing metal demands. However, shallow-water mining contradicts international conservation and sustainability goals and its regulative legislation is still being developed. In the absence of thorough comparisons of different mining practices, there are no justifications in favour of shallow-water mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Kaikkonen
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM), Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Elina A Virtanen
- Finnish Natural History Museum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Marine Research Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
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44
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Kekeç B, Bilim N, Ghiloufi D. An insight on the impact of COVID-19 on the global and Turkish mining industry. Work 2022; 72:1163-1174. [DOI: 10.3233/wor-220037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 affected numerous industries and the mining industry has not been immune to the adverse impacts caused by the pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the importance of the mining industry and its benefits to the economy of the producing countries. The paper also gives an insight into the pre-COVID global and Turkish mining industries and investigates the impact of the pandemic on the global and Turkish mining sectors. Furthermore, the study suggests numerous measures that should be adopted in mines to limit the spread of COVID-19 and conduct mining operations safely and efficiently. METHODS: An extensive literature review was conducted and relevant papers on the importance and benefits of the mining industry, the Turkish and global mining industry, and the impact of COVID-19 on the Turkish and global mining industry were studied. RESULTS: The COVID-19 crisis has deeply affected metal and mineral production and the economic sectors that depend on the mining industry for supplies. The most significant impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the global mining industry consist of the drastic decline in demand and production and the decrease in the prices of several commodities. As with any complex global situation, the mining industries of some countries were affected more than others by the COVID-19 crisis. The Turkish mining industry was to some extent affected by the COVID-19 crisis, but it quickly recovered. CONCLUSIONS: An efficient planning of operations and adopting effective measures and precautions enable limiting the spread of COVID-19 in quarries and mines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilgehan Kekeç
- Department of Mining Engineering, Konya Technical University, Konya, Türkiye
| | - Niyazi Bilim
- Department of Mining Engineering, Konya Technical University, Konya, Türkiye
| | - Dhikra Ghiloufi
- Department of Mining Engineering, Konya Technical University, Konya, Türkiye
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45
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Zheng Q, Hu T, Le Roux S, Li M, Chen C, Yu J, Wang J, Ren W, Ren Z. Local atomic structure evolution of liquid gadolinium and yttrium during solidification: An ab initio study. J RARE EARTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jre.2022.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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46
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Golroudbary SR, Makarava I, Kraslawski A, Repo E. Global environmental cost of using rare earth elements in green energy technologies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:155022. [PMID: 35390387 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Decarbonization of economy is intended to reduce the consumption of non-renewable energy sources and emissions from them. One of the major components of decarbonization are "green energy" technologies, e.g. wind turbines and electric vehicles. However, they themselves create new sustainability challenges, e.g. use of green energy contributes to the reduction of consumption of fossil fuels, on one hand, but at the same time it increases demand for permanent magnets containing considerable amounts of rare earth elements (REEs). This article provides the first global analysis of environmental impact of using rare earth elements in green energy technologies. The analysis was performed applying system dynamics modelling methodology integrated with life cycle assessment and geometallurgical approach. We provide evidence that an increase by 1% of green energy production causes a depletion of REEs reserves by 0.18% and increases GHG emissions in the exploitation phase by 0.90%. Our results demonstrate that between 2010 and 2020, the use of permanent magnets has resulted cumulatively in 32 billion tonnes CO2-equivalent of GHG emissions globally. It shows that new approaches to decarbonization are still needed, in order to ensure sustainability of the process. The finding highlights a need to design and implement various measures intended to increase REEs reuse, recycling (currently below 1%), limit their dematerialization, increase substitution and develop new elimination technologies. Such measures would support the development of appropriate strategies for decarbonization and environmentally sustainable development of green energy technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Rahimpour Golroudbary
- School of Engineering Science, Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM), LUT University, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland.
| | - Iryna Makarava
- School of Engineering Science, Department of Separation Science, LUT University, FI-53850 Lappeenranta, Finland; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, D-09599 Freiberg, Germany.
| | - Andrzej Kraslawski
- School of Engineering Science, Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM), LUT University, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland.
| | - Eveliina Repo
- School of Engineering Science, Department of Separation Science, LUT University, FI-53850 Lappeenranta, Finland
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Shi Z, Yong L, Liu Z, Wang Y, Sui H, Mao W, Zhang L, Li Y, Liu J, Wei S, Song Y. Risk assessment of rare earth elements in fruits and vegetables from mining areas in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:48694-48703. [PMID: 35195864 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19080-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Assessment of contaminated food through the dietary intake is essential for human health. To investigate the health risk of rare earth element (REE) exposure to fruits and vegetables in mining areas in China, we collected 288 fruit samples and 942 vegetable samples from four representative mining points (Bayan Obo in Inner Mongolia, Weishan in Shandong, Maoming in Guangdong, Longnan in Jiangxi) and their control areas. The content of REEs was determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The total REEs in fruits from mining and control areas were 12.90 μg kg-1 and 11.89 μg kg-1, and in vegetables were 92.90 μg kg-1 and 62.38 μg kg-1, and the difference was statistically significant in vegetables (P = 0.048). The drupes had more REE concentration in fruits (68.41 μg kg-1, 16.90 μg kg-1 in mining and control areas, respectively) (P < 0.01), and the leafy vegetables had more REE concentration in vegetables (245.81 μg kg-1, 123.51 μg kg-1 in mining and control areas, respectively) (P < 0.01). With the enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREE), the REE distribution patterns coincided in mining and control areas and different types of fruits and vegetables. The health risk assessment indicated that the estimated daily intakes (0.02-0.06 μg kg-1 day-1, 0.53-1.22 μg kg-1 day-1 for fruits and vegetables, respectively) were lower than the allowable daily intake value (60.4 μg kg-1 day-1). In mining areas, REEs obtained from fruits and vegetables were insufficient to cause health damage to human beings. However, sustained exposure to low REEs, especially for children, still needs attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Shi
- MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Yong
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China (China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment), Beijing, 10022, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China (China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment), Beijing, 10022, People's Republic of China
| | - Yibaina Wang
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China (China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment), Beijing, 10022, People's Republic of China
| | - Haixia Sui
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China (China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment), Beijing, 10022, People's Republic of China
| | - Weifeng Mao
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China (China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment), Beijing, 10022, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China (China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment), Beijing, 10022, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiling Li
- MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jialin Liu
- MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng Wei
- MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Song
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China (China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment), Beijing, 10022, People's Republic of China.
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48
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Solvent-driven fractional crystallization for atom-efficient separation of metal salts from permanent magnet leachates. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3789. [PMID: 35778388 PMCID: PMC9249736 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31499-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This work reports a dimethyl ether-driven fractional crystallization process for separating rare earth elements and transition metals. The process has been successfully applied in the treatment of rare earth element-bearing permanent magnet leachates as an atom-efficient, reagent-free separation method. Using ~5 bar pressure, the solvent was dissolved into the aqueous system to displace the contained metal salts as solid precipitates. Treatments at distinct temperatures ranging from 20–31 °C enable crystallization of either lanthanide-rich or transition metal-rich products, with single-stage solute recovery of up to 95.9% and a separation factor as high as 704. Separation factors increase with solution purity, suggesting feasibility for eco-friendly solution treatments in series and parallel to purify aqueous material streams. Staged treatments are demonstrated as capable of further improving the separation factor and purity of crystallized products. Upon completion of a crystallization, the solvent can be recovered with high efficiency at ambient pressure. This separation process involves low energy and reagent requirements and does not contribute to waste generation. Rare earth elements are essential to electrified infrastructure and clean energy production. Here, authors show reagent- and energy-efficient separation of lanthanides from secondary feedstock using dimethyl ether-driven fractional crystallization.
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Hu J, Yang X, Deng X, Liu X, Yu J, Chi R, Xiao C. Isolation and Nitrogen Removal Efficiency of the Heterotrophic Nitrifying-Aerobic Denitrifying Strain K17 From a Rare Earth Element Leaching Site. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:905409. [PMID: 35756011 PMCID: PMC9216216 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.905409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
K17, an indigenous and heterotrophic nitrifying-aerobic denitrifying bacterium, was isolated from the soil of a weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore leaching site in Longnan County, China. Strain K17 was identified as Pseudomonas mosselii. In this study, the morphological characteristics of strain K17 were observed and the optimal ammonia nitrogen removal conditions for the strain were studied using a single-factor experiment. Key enzyme activities were determined, and we also explored the ammonia nitrogen removal process of strain K17 on simulated leaching liquor of the rare earth element leaching site. Based on the determination of ammonia nitrogen removal and enzyme activity, it was found that strain K17 has both heterotrophic nitrifying and aerobic denitrifying activities. In addition, single-factor experiments revealed that the most appropriate carbon source for strain K17 was sodium citrate with a C/N ratio of 10 and an initial NH4+-N concentration of 100 mg/l. Furthermore, the optimal initial pH and rotation speed were 7 and 165 r/min, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency of strain K17 was greater than 95%. As an indigenous bacterium, strain K17 has great potential for treating residual ammonium leaching solutions from rare earth element leaching sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangyi Deng
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuemei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Junxia Yu
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruan Chi
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunqiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
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50
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Xiao S, Geng Y, Pan H, Gao Z, Yao T. Uncovering the Key Features of Dysprosium Flows and Stocks in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:8682-8690. [PMID: 35544346 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dysprosium (Dy) is a critical rare earth element and plays an indispensable role in clean energy technologies, such as wind turbines and electric vehicles. However, its flows and stocks in the whole life cycle and potential barriers to sustainable supply remain unclear, although the demand for Dy is increasing and its reserves are limited. This study aims to track China's Dy cycle for the period of 2000 to 2019 by employing dynamic material flow analysis. The results show that (1) demand for Dy had increased by 117-fold, with an accumulative use of 37,317 tons, of which 50% was obtained from illegal mining; (2) 33% of the overall Dy resource was used in wind turbines in 2019, followed by air conditioners and electric vehicles (22 and 17%, respectively); (3) China's net Dy export had increased by 10-fold from 2000 to 2019, with Dy concentrates and final products being the dominant import and export products, respectively. Illegal mining, inadequate recycling policies, and limited Dy supply sources are potential barriers influencing sustainable Dy supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijiang Xiao
- School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yong Geng
- School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hengyu Pan
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu Campus, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, PR China
| | - Ziyan Gao
- School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Tianli Yao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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