Protein-based mining could revolutionize rare earth element extraction.
A protein produced by certain bacteria can extract and separate the rare earth elements neodymium and dysprosium from the ore in which they are found. With demand for these metals growing exponentially, the discovery could be a game-changer in the decarbonization race. Existing processes involve repetitive steps, sometimes hundreds of them, each requiring toxic chemicals. The work could have considerable geopolitical significance as China dominates rare earth production, not because other countries lack deposits, but because others haven’t tolerated the pollution currently involved in their processing.