Eggshell Waste Offers Sustainable Solution for Rare Earth Element Recovery

Researchers discover that calcium carbonate in eggshells can absorb and separate valuable rare earth elements from water, providing an eco-friendly extraction method.

The study was conducted by Trinity College Dublin's School of Natural Sciences and iCRAG.
Eggshells were tested in solutions containing rare earth elements at temperatures ranging from 25°C to 205°C.
At higher temperatures, the eggshells transformed, forming new minerals like kozoite and bastnasite.
This method aligns with circular economy principles and addresses environmental concerns of traditional extraction methods.
Findings published in the journal ACS Omega highlight the potential for waste valorization in green technologies.