The University of Agriculture Faisalabad scientist Dr Sadia Ilyas in collaboration with JeonBuk National University Korea has made a breakthrough to utilize rare earth elements for the development of high technology in Pakistan that will reduce the import bill worth billions of rupees.
The pilot research project was carried in Korea and it would be replicated in Pakistan.
Dr Sadia Ilyas said although Pakistan is exploiting its rare earth reserves at present but the newly developed technology can be applicable to the low grades ores which remained unexploited till date and will help contribute in the economy of Pakistan.
She said that rare earth elements were critical components in many high modern and environmental technologies. Pakistani rare earth resources are weather crust and low grade so need efficient technological development
The technology is developed involving bio assisted leaching followed by solo chemical recovery process for the exploitation of Korean monazite.
She said that a part of the research had been published in top five international journals in the Journal of Cleaner Production. Group leader Hyunjung Kim said that the study approaches cleaner production of high purity rare earth elements under the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals.
