Abstract
Data from the International Energy Agency shows transportation is a major contributor to global emissions, totaling 8 gigatons (Gt) of carbon dioxide produced in 2023, with road transportation producing 5.87Gt. Mitigation efforts, such as battery powered electric vehicles, have increased demand for the critical minerals, including lithium and rare earth elements (REEs). But these elements do not occur in a usable form on the Earth’s surface, as they must be mined and processed first. This raises an issue across the globe, as countries race to develop mineral extraction techniques to meet growing demands. Both my technical and STS papers will address the challenges associated with the increased demand for critical minerals, specifically focusing on mineral recovery processes. My technical project outlines a praseodymium and neodymium oxide (Pr2O3 and Nd2O3) production process using bastnaesite ore found at the Mountain Pass mine. My STS research will investigate how the environmental and social impacts of hard rock lithium mining are distributed, using Australia as a case study.
My team’s technical project focuses on designing a process to produce saleable Pr2O3 and Nd2O3 from bastnaesite ore. Currently, China is monopolizing the REE market, posing a threat to U.S. mineral independence, which can be countered by the development of domestic refineries. The goal was to design a processing site capable of producing a combined Pr2O3 and Nd2O3 product that can be sold for use in magnets and batteries. This work was completed by estimating process conditions and operating costs based on limited existing knowledge of REE refining practices and lab-scale research, as this a largely uninvestigated field in the U.S. The final analysis of this process showed that it would not be economically viable as proposed, but if further processing steps were designed to convert byproducts into additional saleable REE oxides, could help bolster U.S. mineral refining capacity.
On the other hand, my STS research investigated how the impacts of lithium mining in Australia are distributed among groups involved, focusing specifically on the environment, Indigenous communities, and mine workers. Hard rock mining is land-intensive, creating dust and chemical runoff that can harm workers and nearby ecosystems. Through a review of Life Cycle Assessments, chemical exposure data, and interviews, I analyzed which groups bear the burdens associated with mining activities, while critiquing actor-network theory (ANT), as defined by John Law. I found that all three groups, as actors within the lithium mining network, disproportionately feel the impacts of pollution, cultural land loss, and hazardous work environment. This demonstrates a need for reform of the mine development process, contradicting the ANT idea that all actors inherently have equal power within a network.
While both projects attempt to address the issues associated with mineral mining, more work is needed to put these findings into practice. From a technical perspective, equipment needs to be designed to convert byproduct streams containing valuable minerals into saleable products. My team’s work provides future researchers with a starting point to eventually allow the site to turn a profit, helping develop more domestic mineral refineries. My STS research helped identify areas where attention is needed to minimize the negative impacts of lithium mining in Australia and the cause of those disparities. Although this research identifies marginalized groups, future work is needed to ensure they are considered by mine corporations during the developmental phase of construction. Even though my two projects fall short of finding explicit solutions for the challenges associated with lithium and REE extraction, they can act as a roadmap for others who hope to do the same.
I want to thank my capstone advisor, Professor Eric Anderson, for his insight throughout my team’s technical project, as well as my teammates, Rahel Bitew, Ellie Bowman, Nina LeBourgeois, and Michael Lipton. I would also like to thank Professor Ron Unnerstall for his expertise and assistance with the process safety portion of the technical report, as well as Daniel Rau for helping to develop this project. Thank you to Dr. Caitlin Wylie for her support and feedback on my STS prospectus and final paper. Her guidance was instrumental in weaving both STS theory and my research together. Finally, I would like to thank both the University of Virginia Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Engineering and Society for providing me with the education and resources to make this possible.
