A growing database of sourced solutions.

Bio-leaching / organic-acid leaching

Biodegradable organic acids (citric, ascorbic, oxalic) replace toxic ammonium sulfate in ionic clays, eliminating groundwater nitrogen pollution.

Displaces: Ammonium-sulfate in-situ leaching

Electrokinetic mining (EKM)

A low-voltage electrical field applied directly into clay beds migrates REE ions toward recovery wells, cutting chemical reagent use by up to 80%.

Displaces: Reagent-intensive heap / in-situ leaching

Autonomous & electrified fleets

AI-optimised all-electric trucks and drills paired with hyperspectral core scanning surgically map and mine high-grade zones in open pits.

Displaces: Diesel fleets and bulk mining

Phytomining

Hyperaccumulator plants draw REEs from low-grade soils or legacy tailings through their roots; the biomass is harvested and burned to a high-grade bio-ore.

Displaces: Leaving low-grade soils and tailings unmined

Mechanochemical activation

High-energy ball mills force reactions between concentrates and reagents at room temperature, eliminating 500°C roasting kilns.

Displaces: Sulfuric-acid bake roasting

Alkaline autoclave leaching

Closed-loop high-pressure sodium-hydroxide vessels digest monazite/bastnäsite at lower temperatures while safely isolating thorium and uranium upfront.

Displaces: Open acid-bake cracking

Microwave-assisted roasting

Targeted microwave energy heats only the REE mineral grains within a concentrate, cutting overall energy use by up to 50%.

Displaces: Conventional rotary-kiln roasting

Continuous chromatography (centrifugal / true moving bed)

Solid-phase resin columns replace giant liquid-liquid SX mixer lines, separating the elements with a ~90% smaller footprint.

Displaces: Multi-stage solvent extraction

Biosorption & engineered proteins

Synthetic-biology proteins such as lanmodulin bind, sort and separate specific REEs from solution with ultra-high affinity.

Displaces: Organophosphorus solvent extractants

Ionic liquids

Custom non-volatile, non-flammable organic salts selectively extract heavy REEs at room temperature, replacing toxic kerosene diluents.

Displaces: Kerosene-diluent solvent extraction

Inert-anode molten-salt electrolysis

Non-consumable ceramic/cermet anodes in fluoride baths release pure oxygen instead of CO₂, eliminating carbon emissions from reduction.

Displaces: Carbon-anode molten-salt electrolysis

Metal-vapour vacuum reduction

Heating oxides with a reducing metal under ultra-high vacuum lets pure REE metal vaporise and condense cleanly, skipping salt baths.

Displaces: Metallothermic salt-bath reduction

Ionic-liquid electrowinning

Deposits pure REE metals from ionic-liquid solutions below 100°C, slashing the energy footprint of 1,000°C molten-salt infrastructure.

Displaces: High-temperature molten-salt electrowinning

Grain-boundary diffusion (GBD)

Heavy REEs (Dy, Tb) are sprayed onto a magnet surface and baked so atoms seep only into grain borders where heat resistance is needed, using far less heavy REE.

Displaces: Bulk heavy-REE alloying

Additive manufacturing of magnets

Laser powder-bed fusion or binder jetting prints magnets in final geometry, dropping machining waste from 60%+ toward zero.

Displaces: Sinter-and-machine magnet production

Acid-free chemical recycling (copper salts)

Copper nitrate/acetate solutions dissolve REEs out of swarf and end-of-life electronics at 99.5%+ purity without acid-dump lines.

Displaces: Strong-acid hydrometallurgical recycling