March 13, 2025

Chemical process creates a highly effective material for adsorbing neodymium.

At Mizzou, we don’t back away from challenges. We meet them head-on — using our passion and expertise to unlock a better future for everyone.

Now, a Mizzou Engineering researcher has found a way to extract rare earth elements (REEs) from mine waste. The solution, described in the journal Separation and Purification Technology, helps address a critical need for these materials.

REEs are essential to manufacture permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and other advanced technology. This study focused on neodymium, one of the most valuable REEs, which is present in significant quantities in an inactive iron mine in Pea Ridge, Missouri, in the Ozark Mountains.

“Rare earth elements are vital in manufacturing all sorts of technology products, and Missouri could play a major role in addressing their shortage in the U.S.,” Baolin Deng, Curator’s Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, said.

To extract the neodymium, John Earwood, a doctoral student who led the project, fabricated two types of hydrogels that can selectively bind neodymium. The main ingredient in these gels is chitosan, a biodegradable, non-toxic material that is a waste product from the seafood industry.

“It comes from the exoskeletons of shrimp and other crustaceans, so it’s sustainable and relatively low-cost,” Earwood said. “And no, it doesn’t smell like fish.”

But mine waste is acidic, which can weaken chitosan and make it less effective for extracting REEs. To remedy this, Earwood dissolved the chitosan with a solvent of alkali salts to make it stronger.

He then treated the resulting polymer with two separate crosslinking agents to create two stronger hydrogels, which he submerged in mine drainage containing neodymium and other elements.

“These hydrogels were very effective at adsorbing neodymium, even in the presence of other REEs in the mine drainage,” Earwood said. “This shows that the materials can be used effectively in a variety of conditions, which is important for real-world applications.”

Mizzou’s proximity to Pea Ridge and the support of mine owner James Kennedy presented a unique opportunity for Earwood. “Pea Ridge has one of the most significant concentrations of rare earths in the United States. We’re incredibly lucky to have that in our backyard,” Earwood said.

Earwood also credits Deng, his PhD advisor, as well as the undergraduate students who contributed to project.

“As students, having access to Dr. Deng and his expertise is a huge advantage,” Earwood said. “He’s a great mentor, and his international reputation as a leader in chemical engineering opens a lot of doors.”

Earwood cautions that further research is necessary before the process can be implemented at a larger scale. While doing so could improve access to REEs, it would only be part of a broader strategy, not a complete solution to REE supply challenges, Earwood said.

“Scaling this technology would create new REE supply streams from previously untapped sources, which would reduce our dependence on foreign sources and breathe new life into old mines,” he said.

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