China in a recent breakthrough has reportedly achieved the world's first extraction of a naturally formed mineral with rare earth elements from a living fern plant.
According to Chinese scientists, the recent unprecedented discovery offers a “green circular model” for extracting valuable rare earth elements.
The team found crystallized and nanoscale monazite within the tissues of an evergreen fern Blechnum orientale.
Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry that took part in the study issued a statement, “This breakthrough opens new possibilities for the direct recovery of functional rare earth element (RRE) materials.”
“This discovery not only sheds light on REE enrichment and sequestration during chemical and biological weathering but also opens new possibilities for the direct recovery of functional REE materials,” said the researchers.
Monazite is a high-value phosphate mineral known for its high concentration of rare earth elements, including cerium, neodymium, and lanthanum. These minerals are used in modern technology due to their physical and mechanical properties.
According to findings published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology, this method would open the avenues of Phyto mining and introduces an innovative and “plant-based approach for sustainable rare earth element resource development.”
Phytomining is primarily used to extract metals from soil by using so-called hyperaccumulator plants. However, this green strategy also offers promising opportunities for sustainable rare earth supply.