Researchers are testing hyperaccumulator plants to extract rare earth elements from soil and mine tailings. This process, known as phytomining, offers a way to recover critical minerals needed for wind turbines and electric vehicle magnets with significantly lower carbon emissions than conventional open pit mining. While traditional recovery is energy intensive, this biological approach can approach carbon neutrality through plant sequestration. The study highlights specific plant species capable of targeting different types of rare earths, potentially turning contaminated industrial sites into productive mineral sources.
