On 4 June 2024, a team of researchers from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and iCRAG, the SFI (Science Foundation Ireland) Research Centre for Applied Geosciences, published findings of their project looking at the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from eggshell waste in the international journal ACS Omega.
This work was funded by Science Foundation Ireland, Geological Survey Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency under the SFI Frontiers for the Future Programme.
The researchers discovered that calcium carbonate (calcite) in eggshells can effectively absorb and separate valuable REEs from water.
REEs, which are essential for the technologies used in electric cars and wind turbines, for example, are in increasing demand but in relatively short supply. As a result, scientists must find new ways of extracting them from the environment – and in sustainable ways, with current methods often harmful.
 Image: Remi Rateau, lead author of the study (left), and Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco, principal investigator.
| Lead author Dr Remi Rateau commented on the significance of the research, stating, “This study presents a potential innovative use of waste material that not only offers a sustainable solution to the problem of rare earth element recovery but also aligns with the principles of circular economy and waste valorisation."
iCRAG Funded Investigator, Prof. Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco, emphasised the broader implications of the findings, adding: “By transforming eggshell waste into a valuable resource for rare earth recovery, we address critical environmental concerns associated with traditional extraction methods and contribute to the development of greener technologies."
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The published journal article can be read at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c00931. A PDF copy is available from iCRAG on request.
Image: Composite image using high-resolution microscopy and spectroscopy showing the absorption and replacement processes of rare earth elements.
Related Links:
You can read the iCRAG Pres Release HERE.
You can read the Trinity College Dublin (TCD) Press Release HERE.
You can read more about the SFI Frontiers for the Future Programme HERE.