Bioengineering technologies for harvesting rare earth elements from waste

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This project aims to optimise the function of components that enable rare earth elements (REEs) to be harvested from waste. REEs are needed for building clean energy technologies and electronics. Demand for REEs exceeds supply and REEs are lost in industrial wastes. This project is expected to provide avenues for recycling the REEs that are currently lost in mining and electronic wastes. The approach involves identifying, testing and engineering selective components derived from REE-accumulating plants and microorganisms. The components will be used to advance separation technologies, enabling differential harvesting of target REEs from complex mixtures. Reuse of REEs from waste is key to energy sustainability in the future.