Rare earth recycling reinvents sustainable mining

In a world increasingly dependent on technology, a young Franco-American researcher proposes a revolutionary solution for recovering rare earths from waste. Marie Perrin, a doctor in chemistry, has been named among the ten "Young Inventors of the Year" by the European Patent Office (EPO), thanks to her innovative method of extracting europium, a key element in the electronics industry, AFP reports.

• Rare earths - abundant, but difficult to separate

"Rare earths are not rare," emphasizes Marie Perrin. "The challenge lies in separating them." Although these elements exist in relatively large quantities in the Earth's crust, the isolation process has been, for a century, one of the most difficult challenges for chemists. Europium, one of the 17 rare earth elements, is used in LED displays, in the security of euro banknotes and in numerous other digital and optical applications. Typically, extracting europium from ore involves polluting, energy-intensive processes that generate tons of toxic waste for every ton extracted. According to Harvard International Review, up to 2,000 tons of waste can be produced for a single ton of rare earths.

• The solution comes from waste: a clean and efficient method

Perrin approached the problem from a novel angle: why extract europium from ores, when it already exists in large quantities in electronic waste? His studies have shown that europium can be efficiently recovered from used fluorescent lamps and neon tubes - sources where concentrations are up to 20 times higher than in nature. The process she developed involves using bio-inspired sulfur-based molecules that react with powders from lighting waste. "After a few hours, a solid precipitate forms - europium. It's a selective, simple and sustainable extraction," she explains.

• Reecover - the start-up that takes research to industry

To turn the research into a practical solution on a large scale, Perrin founded the start-up Reecover, together with her high school friend, who specializes in finance, and Professor Victor Mougel, her former coordinator at ETH Zurich. The goal is to industrialize the method and extend its applicability to other rare elements. "It's encouraging to see how environmental and recycling concerns are becoming part of technological innovation. The world is starting to realize the real impact of digitalization on the planet," says the young researcher.

• Global Race for Critical Resources

More than 70% of the world's rare earth mining and processing is controlled by China, prompting Europe and other regions to seek alternative, sustainable and independent solutions. Marie Perrin's innovation offers a viable path to reducing external dependency and protecting the environment.

Selected from over 450 candidates from around the world, Marie Perrin will compete for the EPO Young Inventors Award. The three winners will be announced on 18 June in Reykjavik, Iceland. A step towards a cleaner industry and a more sustainable future starts with simple but brilliant ideas - like looking for treasure in the trash.