Japan Team Extracts Rare Earth Metals Using Baker's Yeast

A research group from the Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Engineering has created an inexpensive adsorbent material using baker’s yeast and trimetaphosphate that selectively recovers rare earth elements (REEs), SciTechDaily reported.

Photo Insert: Experiments with synthetic seawater and hot spring water showed that the material could adsorb REEs even with a high content of other components.

Experiments with synthetic seawater and hot spring water showed that the material could adsorb REEs even with a high content of other components. The demand for precious metals and REEs is expected to continue increasing in the future.

Due to limited production areas, recycling from precision equipment and recovering from seawater and hot spring water are needed to ensure a stable supply.

A research group led by Prof. Masayuki Azuma and Associate Prof. Yoshihiro Ojima of the Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Engineering confirmed the material can adsorb REEs even from hot spring water with an REE concentration of several to several tens of parts per billion (ppb) per liter (μg/L) and high content of other components.

“This new technology is expected to contribute to the realization of a metal resource-circulating society and a safe society through environmental purification,” said Prof. Azuma.

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