Challenges of Producing and Using Rare Earth Elements in China

Being the world’s largest producer, China has been looking for more ways to expand the use of rare earths. Professor Ewald Schnug at the Institute of Animal Nutrition at Germany’s Federal Agricultural Research Centre in Braunschweig says China has been looking for ways to use rare earths since the 1980s. Schnug has studied the agricultural use of rare earths and is concerned that it is highly risky because rare earths are often bound to radioactive elements. One area where the Chinese have a long track record is not very appetizing, namely the use of rare earths in fertilizers and animal feed:

“It is like feeding pigs with copper. You feed them concentrations which are nearly toxic but the organism reacts with increased metabolic rates to it. As a result, this can produce faster growth or more intensive growth. So it might be some sort of a stress reaction, but another idea is that it is some sort of a promoter of the calcium metabolism in the organism. We don't know."

He says that because many of the traditional growth enhancers, such as antibiotics, have been banned in many countries. Worldwide agriculture scientists are looking for alternatives to increase returns. But Schnug adds that, though some in China are using this kind of growth enhancer, it is not yet officially recommended on a national scale because the full impact has yet to be studied.

Green technologies, harmful side-effects

In other areas, especially that of green technologies, there is no question that humankind's dependence on rare earths is increasing steadily. For instance, no fewer than 15 kilos of rare earths are required for the batteries of a hybrid car. Michael Meyer, professor for Minerology and Geochemistry at Aachen's technical university, RWTH, dismisses concerns and says mining and processing rare earths is like the treatment of any other mineral: "whether or not the processing of rare earths poses a problem for the environment depends on regulations and the technical standards used. Basically, if the best available technology is used, no harm can really be done to the environment."

But there are concerns rare earth production is harmful to the environment if the correct procudures are ignored. Hermann Wotruba, professor and head of research at RWTH Aachen’s Department of Mineral Processing says it is vital to separate out radio active elements:

“There are processes that allow the separation of Uranium and Thorium from the rare earths. But then you have Uranium and Thorium left over that has to be disposed of or stored somewhere. And the question is how well is this being done? Another question is can there be radioactive leakage during processing if there is no proper controlling?"

High technological standards are the key

Wotruba says that the equipment and technology used in mining in China is behind Western standards. Not only that, but Chinese regulations are also cause for concern. "Implementing regulations is indeed possible. There are environmental regulations in China but they are not necessarily upheld, with the excuse that it is too expensive. Protecting the environment costs money."

And there is little in China's previous record to suggest that Beijing will plough some of the increasing profits back into environmental protection.

Author: Sarah Berning
Editor: Grahame Lucas