South Dakota Professors Develop Method to Extract Rare Earth Elements from Coal Waste
Professors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology have developed a method to extract rare earth elements from coal mine waste. The research, led by Venkataramana Gadhamshetty and Purushotham Tukkaraja, could transform environmental liabilities into strategic resources. The project, supported by the National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of the Interior, focuses on materials from Wyoming coal mines and targets elements vital for various technologies, including electric vehicles and military applications.

Researchers at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology have created a method to extract rare earth elements from coal mine waste, such as overburden rock and coal ash. Led by professors Venkataramana Gadhamshetty and Purushotham Tukkaraja, the project aims to convert environmental liabilities into valuable resources.
Funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of the Interior, the research focuses on Wyoming coal mines, targeting elements like yttrium, dysprosium, and gadolinium, essential for technologies in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and military applications. Findings will be presented to experts on February 11.




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