Recovery of critical raw materials by utilizing phytomining technology

Abstract

A list of critical raw materials and elements has been established by European Commission based on two parameters, supply risk and economic importance. Therefore, it is important to derive and develop innovative technologies for extraction of these naturally occurring materials to meet the demand. Mining of critical elements is one of the widely applicable conventional methods for extraction, but it is feasible only, when there is enough quantity of desired element. However, when the quantity of desired element in the target source is not enough then this study suggests the application of Phytomining technology. An introduction to phytomining technology has been presented in this study, followed by presenting the best hyperaccumulator plants so far discovered particularly for accumulation of critical elements. Those hyperaccumulator plants were considered more useful which can accumulate high concentration of target elements. Then economic feasibility of phytomining technology has been done by comparing the price of 1 Kg of desired element versus the extraction cost per Kg of the same element. The results show that phytomining technology is feasible for recovery of Germanium. Data has been gathered from previously performed research.