Rare soil elements, wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles, including renewable energy, are most of the technologies that make it possible. These items are also used for smartphones, flat-screen TVs, and other high-tech products such as LED lighting.
The reason why rare soil elements are so important is that they have unique magnetic, electrical, and optical properties that make them ideal for use in most of these applications. For example, neodymium and dysprosium are used in magnets that strengthen wind turbines, while LED lighting is used in phosphorus that forms red color.
However, rare soil elements mining and processing may have negative environmental and social effects. Rare soil elements may include the use of toxic chemicals that can pollute the mining, water, and soil. It can also disturb local communities and lead to violations of human rights. For this reason, it is important to ensure that rare soil elements are carried out responsible and sustainably with appropriate arrangements and surveillance to minimize these effects of mining.
Rare soil elements are excavated by excavating large open pits that can pollute the environment and disrupt ecosystems. When it is regulated in a bad way, mining can produce wastewater pools full of acids that may infiltrate groundwater, heavy metals, and radioactive substances. Converting raw ore to a useful form to make magnets and other technologies is a long effort that produces large amounts of water and potentially poisonous chemicals and produces voluminous waste. Researchers are investigating everything from reducing the amount of waste produced during ore processing to increasing the efficiency of rare soil element separation, which can reduce the amount of toxic waste.
In general, rare soil mining can play a critical role in our renewable energy future, while it is important to balance the benefits with potential risks and make sure that we use these resources responsibly and sustainably.
Source:
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/rare-earth-mining-renewable-energy-future
