One of the key research thrusts that my group
focuses on is resource recovery, such as recycling,
combusting, or energy generation. In order
to extract the maximum benefits from a product,
we are trying more to find creative ways,
by using chemistry and environmental engineering,
for resource harvesting. In particular, the
goal of our research is the extraction and
recovery of critical materials, specifically
rare earth elements from unconventional resources.
We focus on natural aqueous media and industrial
aqueous waste streams, such as brines or produced
waters from geothermal energy production,
conventional oil gas and shale gas extraction
operations, and of course, coal combustion
products. The ensuing demand of these consumer
products incorporating those rare earth elements
have established the rare earth elements as
valuable global commodities. Rare earth element
reserves are high, but much of them are located
in low concentration deposits or ocean floor
manganese nodules, which are both extremely
expensive to mine with current methods. Being
able to develop new materials, for example
adsorbance, and design new extraction and
recovery methods, which will be environmentally
benign, and cost and energy less intensive,
is crucial for the advancement of many technologies,
including the booming green energy ones.
