U.S. scientists find potential to extract rare earth elements from coal ash

Scientists in the U.S. have discovered that up to 11 million tons of rare earth elements could be extracted from coal ash, a waste product from burning coal. This amount is nearly eight times the current domestic reserves. The study, led by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, suggests that utilizing coal ash could significantly increase the U.S. supply of these crucial elements, which are essential for many technologies. Currently, the U.S. relies heavily on imports, with 75% coming from China. While coal ash contains lower concentrations of rare earth elements compared to geological deposits, the U.S. has large quantities available. Researchers are exploring the economic feasibility of this extraction method, which could potentially recover valuable resources from existing waste.