Sustainable supply of critical materials: Addressing the fundamental challenges in separation science and engineering

Abstract

Recent stresses in the global market of rare-earth elements (REEs) have brought the sustainable supply of crit. metals to the forefront in the United States and other industrialized countries. In addn. to REEs (e.g., europium, cerium, neodymium, gadolinium, and terbium), significant amts. of copper, silver, gold, manganese, lithium, titanium, gallium and platinum group metals (e.g., platinum, palladium, and ruthenium) will be needed to build the sustainable products, processes, and industries of the 21st century. This overview will highlight some key challenges in sepn. science and engineering assocd. with the sustainable supply of crit. materials.