WVU extracts rare earths from mine wastewater

West Virginia University (WVU) has developed a pilot program at a retired coal mine in Mount Storm, West Virginia, to extract rare earth elements from acid mine drainage. The process treats the acidic, heavy-metal-laden wastewater, recovering rare earths as a byproduct while cleaning the environment. The facility can produce about four tons of rare earth oxides per year, with roughly 45% being heavy rare earths. WVU is considering expanding to more sites, potentially meeting 7-8% of global demand for elements like terbium and dysprosium. The project has signed a preliminary agreement with RE Alloys to process the extracted rare earths. This initiative aims to reduce US dependence on China, which dominates the rare earths market, and to support domestic supply chains for defense and clean energy technologies.