2025, Vol. 12, No. 3. - go to content...

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DOI: 10.15862/10NZOR325 (https://doi.org/10.15862/10NZOR325)

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Prituzhalova O.A., Zhovanik I.A., Zhovanik Yu.V. Environmental aspects of rare-earth elements life cycle. Russian journal of resources, conservation and recycling. 2025; 12(3). Available at: https://resources.today/PDF/10NZOR325.pdf (in Russian). DOI: 10.15862/10NZOR325

Environmental aspects of rare-earth elements life cycle

Prituzhalova Olga Alexandrovna
University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia
E-mail: o.a.prituzhalova@utmn.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0720-9793
RSCI: https://elibrary.ru/author_profile.asp?id=891523

Zhovanik Ilya Alexandrovich
University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia
E-mail: i.a.zhovanik@utmn.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9233-4782
RSCI: https://elibrary.ru/author_profile.asp?id=1228798

Zhovanik Yuliya Viktorovna
University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia
E-mail: y.v.zhovanik@utmn.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4512-0788
RSCI: https://elibrary.ru/author_profile.asp?id=1194928

Abstract. In the Russian Federation, it is planned to increase industrial capacities for the extraction and use of rare earth metals, which requires consideration of emerging environmental risks. The article is devoted to the study of environmental aspects and related environmental impacts at various stages of the life cycle of rare earth metals and their products. According to the scientific literature, the authors have compiled a list of types of environmental impacts at the stages of mining and processing ores, processing the resulting concentrate, manufacturing and using products using rare earth elements, recycling, landfill disposal or waste incineration. Quantitative characteristics of environmental impacts are given.

The greatest impact is directly related to mining activities: disruption of the landscape, soil and vegetation cover, the formation of significant amounts of toxic and radioactive waste, wastewater, and emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. When extracting metals from ores, wastewater, solid waste, emissions of harmful gases and dust, as well as high energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions pose a serious threat to the environment, and there are high risks to workers’ health. At the stage of using products containing rare earth metals, there is a problem such as their dispersion in the environment. Recycling of waste containing rare earth metals is technically difficult and costly, but it can provide advantages in terms of environmental aspects compared to the extraction of rare earth metals from primary sources. Risks of chemical contamination of ecosystems remain at the stages of waste disposal and neutralization.

Keywords: rare earth metals; environmental impact; environmental issues; life cycle assessment; Rare-Earth Metals Extraction Methods; Hydrometallurgy; Waste Recycling

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