This project examines how environmental regulations affect the design, economics, and sustainability of rare-earth element refining in the United States.
Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and electronics, yet the United States relies heavily on imported refined materials. Although domestic mining and processing capacity is expanding, the economic viability of U.S.-based REE refining remains strongly influenced by environmental and regulatory requirements. REE processing generates complex waste streams, including acidic and radioactive byproducts, making regulatory compliance a central factor in process design and cost. This project will investigate how environmental regulations influence REE separation and refining in the United States through comparison with major producing countries such as China and Australia. The research will (1) analyze and compare regulatory frameworks relevant to REE refining across these regions, (2) incorporate regulatory constraints into process design and scale-up simulations to evaluate their impacts on cost and environmental performance, and (3) develop policy insights to support environmentally responsible and economically competitive U.S. REE supply chains. By integrating chemical process modeling with regulatory and policy analysis, this interdisciplinary effort will establish a framework for designing REE refining systems that are both compliant and sustainable, while clarifying how regulatory structures influence investment and technology development decisions.
