By Tanya Pietrass, NSF CHE

1. ACS Presidential Symposium
Ensuring the Sustainability of
Critical Materials and Alternatives
Tanja Pietraß
Deputy Division Director, NSF CHE
Philadelphia, August 21, 2012

2. Future Challenges

3. The Growing Need for Rare Earth Elements
HEVs,
PHEVs, and
EVs contain
from 20 to
25 pounds of
rare earth
elements
Source: http://www.molycorp.com/products/rare-earths-many-uses/advanced-vehicles/

4. Minerals, Critical Minerals, and the U.S.
Economy
National Research Council, 2008
HEVs,
PHEVs, and
EVs contain
from 20 to
25 pounds of
rare earth
elements
Source: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12034&page=R1

5. 2.96 Million lb of Mineral Resources
per Person (Lifetime) in the U.S.
Source: Chemical and Engineering News, June 25, 2012, p. 12-18

6. Recycle Rates of Primary Metals
Source: Chemical and Engineering News, June 25, 2012, p. 12-18

7. Recycle Rates of Platinum Group Metals
and Other Elements
In < 1% Li < 1% P = 0% Rare Earths < 1 %
Source: Chemical and Engineering News, June 25, 2012, p. 12-18

8. Challenge
Extraction, Refinery and Recovery:
Need for Development of Chemical and
Engineering Separation Processes
Need for Collaboration between Chemists and
Chemical Engineers

9. 2010 Reauthorization of the
America Competes Act
SEC. 509. SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY BASIC
RESEARCH
“The Director shall establish a Green Chemistry Basic
Research program to award competitive, merit-based
grants to support research into green and sustainable
chemistry which will lead to clean, safe, and
economical alternatives to traditional chemical
products and practices.”

10. Science, Engineering and Education
for Sustainability (SEES)
To advance science, engineering, and education to inform the
societal actions needed for environmental and economic
sustainability and sustainable human well-being.
SEES Portfolio of Programs:
• Arctic SEES
• Dimensions of Biodiversity
• Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials (SusChEM)
• Climate Change Education Partnerships
• Ocean Acidifcation
• Sustainable Energy Pathways (SEP)
• Coastal SEES
• Partnerships for International Research & Education (PIRE)
• Sustainability Research Networks (SRN)
• Decadal & Regional Climate Prediction Using Earth System Models (EaSM)
• Research Coordination Networks (RCN)
• Water Sustainability and Climate (WSC)
• Dynamics of Coupled Natural & Human Systems(CNH)
• SEES Fellows

11. SusChEM Priorities of NSF CHE*
• Replace rare, expensive and/or toxic chemicals with
earth abundant, inexpensive and benign chemicals
• Economically recycle chemicals that can not be replaced
such as phosphorus and the REE’s
• Seek new (non-petroleum based) sources of important
raw materials
• Discover new environmentally friendly chemical reactions
and processes that require less energy water and organic
solvents than current practice
• * DMR (MPS), EAR (GEO), CBET & CMMI (ENG)

12. Challenge
Extraction, Refinery and Recovery:
Need for Development of Chemical and
Engineering Separation Processes
Need for Collaboration between Chemists and
Chemical Engineers

13. Separation Science and Engineering
NSF SusChEM Workshop, January 17-19, 2012:
Identifying fundamental research needs to increase the
sustainability of chemical and materials processing
Identified the key role of separations science and engineering in
the sustainable extraction, recovery, recycling and replacement
of critical metals.
• Replace rare, expensive and/or toxic chemicals with earth abundant,
inexpensive and benign chemicals
• Economically recycle chemicals that can not be replaced such as
phosphorus and the REE’s
• Seek new (non-petroleum based) sources of important raw materials
• Discover new environmentally friendly chemical reactions and
processes that require less energy water and organic solvents than
current practice

14. Separation Science and Engineering
Recommendations (courtesy of Eric Peterson)
• Multidisciplinary problem
• CHE-CBET work more closely together
• DOE-AMO and DOE-BES work more closely with NSF
• Within NSF include BIO and SBE
• Applications of hydrometallurgy and bio-based processes including
separations, etc.
• Joint workshops with DOE and other agencies
• Chemistries for mediation and remediation of waste piles
• Enhanced measurement
• Testing/spectroscopy
• Enhanced specificity/sensitivity
• Reliable standards – i.e. RAL at Idaho for DOE collaborations
• XRF, LIBS, Laser-based

15. Separation Science and Engineering
Recommendations (courtesy of Eric Peterson)
• Fundamental process development vs.
optimization
• Fundamental selective extraction
o e.g. laser isotope separation
• Additional basic research to improve similar
processes
• Water recovery/recycling “closed plant”
• Life cycle planning for manufacturing-recycling

16. Thank You
Where Discoveries Begin