Idaho State University Researchers Develop Polymers to Extract Rare Earth Elements from Waste
Researchers at Idaho State University (ISU), led by Kavita Sharma, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, and Cori Jenkins, associate professor of chemistry, are developing polymers to extract rare earth elements (REEs) from waste streams. This initiative, funded by a grant through the Idaho State Board of Education Higher Education Research Council’s Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission Grant program, aims to turn industrial and electronic waste into valuable resources. REEs are crucial for modern technology, found in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles. The challenge lies in their extraction due to their similar atomic structures and the presence of radioactive contaminants in natural ores. The ISU team is focusing on developing polymers that can selectively bind to REEs, making their extraction more efficient and environmentally friendly. Sharma is creating a biopolymer from sagebrush to target neodymium, while Jenkins is developing a sulfur-based polymer for antimony...
