Hydrometallurgical Roadmaps and Future Strategies for Recovery of Rare Earth Elements

Increasing demand for low carbon technologies and renewable energy sources requires our resources and economies to be circular. Many countries agree that the responsible consumption, production, and recycling of rare-earth-containing products is essential as a way to achieve the sustainable development goals also set out in the European Green Deal. Sustainable sourcing is targeted with carefully designed roadmap for cost efficient REE production from end-of-life products (EoLs) in addition to mining activities as providing primary sources. Hydrometallurgical methods, such as roasting, leaching, precipitation, crystallization, solvent extraction, and ion exchange includes fast developing, selective, eco-friendly, and cost-effective technologies especially for the extraction of REEs. This article provides an overview of primary and secondary resources and summarizes presents case scenario of studies carried out on the use of some promising methods, which could serve as an economical means for recovering REEs.