1st Edition

The Science of Rare Earth Elements Concepts and Applications

By Frank R. Spellman Copyright 2023
    306 Pages 59 Color & 66 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    306 Pages 59 Color & 66 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    This book examines rare earth elements (REEs), materials, and metals that are critical to modern life. These serve as crucial ingredients in the latest technologies including electronics, electric motors, magnets, batteries, generators, energy storage systems (supercapacitors/pseudocapacitors), specialty alloys, and other emerging applications. REEs are used in various sectors including health care, transportation, power generation, petroleum refining, and consumer electronics. The Science of Rare Earth Elements: Concepts and Applications defines these elements, their histories, properties, and current and potential future applications across a wide range of industries across the world. It also discusses the environmental benefits, such as components in electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar applications, and energy storage systems. Conversely, the book also examines the liabilities of mining these REEs.

    Part One. The Foundation. 1. The Vitamins of Industry. 2. Basic Chemistry Review. 3. Rare Earth Elements. 4. Information Please. 5. The 17. 6. Rare in the United States? 7. U.S. Phosphorite Deposits. 8. Placer Rare Earth Elements Deposits. Part Two. Environmental Aspects. 9. Life-Cycle of REE Mines. 10. Excess and Unused Materials. 11. REE Processing. 12. Rare Earth Element Recovery & Recycling. 13. REE: Human Health and Environmental Risks.

    Biography

    Frank R. Spellman is a retired assistant professor of Environmental Health at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va. and author of over 60 books. Spellman has been cited in more than 400 publications; serves as a professional expert witness; incident/accident investigator for the U.S. Department of Justice and a private law firm; and consults on Homeland Security vulnerability assessments (VAs) for critical infrastructure including water/wastewater facilities nationwide. Dr. Spellman lectures on sewage treatment, water treatment and homeland security and health and safety topics throughout the country and teaches water/wastewater operator short courses at Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA). He holds a BA in public Administration; BS in Business Management; MBA; Master of Science, MS, in Environmental Engineering and PhD Environmental Engineering.