| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2024 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
2024 Technical Division Student Poster Contest
|
| Presentation Title |
SPG-6: Phytomining for Rare Earth Elements: A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment |
| Author(s) |
Mohsen Rabbani, Frida Muthoni, Trista McLaughlin, Ehsan Vahidi |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Trista McLaughlin |
| Abstract Scope |
The phytoremediation of polluted sites with heavy metals, such as rare earth elements (REEs), has been established as a cost-effective, easy-to-use, and environmentally friendly way. Furthermore, this technology has another great potential application in the metals production sector through returning metals buried in soil via metals cropping, which is called phytomining. It is well-known that some hyperaccumulators, e.g., fern Dicranopteris linearis, can be used to absorb REE metals from polluted soils and accumulate them in plant organs. The bio-ore can be harvested and used to extract REEs from plant matter. However, key issues related to the environmental sustainability of this new concept have not been assessed yet. Hence, a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) study was conducted to quantify the environmental footprints of REEs phytomining. This LCA research provides guidelines for researchers active in developing a reliable way to encounter soil pollution and keep the earth green and clean. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |
| Keywords |
Recycling and Secondary Recovery, Environmental Effects, Other |