This research study constitutes Project 3 of a DOST-funded three-part program titled “Green Tech: Enabling Technologies for Responsible Mineral Resource Utilization”. The program collectively aims to provide solutions to address sustainability challenges that impact the environment, society, and economy of the mining and minerals industry in the Philippines. The focus of Project 3 is to investigate the potential of bauxite deposits in yielding rare earth elements (REE) as byproducts under Alumina Mining Philippines Inc. (AMPI), Samar, Philippines. To achieve this, the project will involve analyzing the geochemical and mineralogical properties of both parent rocks and bauxite phases and designing an environmentally friendly leaching process for REE using deep eutectic solvents as leachants. The primary goal is to gain a better understanding of the behavior of REE enrichment in bauxite, which is a result of intense tropical weathering of the parent rocks. Additionally, the project aims to create a more sustainable and cost-effective leaching process to extract REE from the ore.
This research addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals for , Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).
Cover photo is from J A Gabo-Ratio et al 2024 IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 1318 012033; DOI 10.1088/1757-899X/1318/1/012033
