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Commission discusses inviting researcher to explore extracting rare‑earths from coal ash and plant bioremediation
Summary
Commissioners on April 16 discussed a proposal to invite a North Carolina State researcher to brief the panel on using plants to bioaccumulate rare earth elements from waste such as fly ash, and agreed to circulate materials and pursue a remote briefing; commissioners noted the Fayetteville coal plant is operated by the Lower Colorado River
Members of the Environmental Commission on April 16 discussed a proposal to explore plant-based bioremediation and possible recovery of rare-earth elements from coal‑plant byproducts, and agreed to pursue a remote briefing from a North Carolina State researcher.
Commissioner proposal and research description
Commissioner Fierro described recent research showing that certain plants can bioaccumulate rare-earth elements from waste streams such as ash and sludge and that the plants can then be harvested to extract the elements. "There are particular plants that can be placed in waste areas ... and naturally, they…
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