SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEPARATING AND RECOVERING RARE EARTHS

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The present application is generally directed to separation and recovery of rare earths using biomass, liposomes, and/or other materials. In some embodiments, a composition comprising rare earths is exposed to biomass, where some of the rare earths are transferred to the biomass, e.g., via absorption. The composition may then be separated from the biomass. A solution may be exposed to the biomass, such that some of the rare earths are released from the biomass into the solution, thereby enriching the solution in one or more rare earths, relative to other rare earths in the biomass. The solution and the biomass may then be separated, and the rare earths recovered from the solution. In some cases, this process may be repeated with different solutions, e.g., having differences in pH or ionic concentration, which may result in different solutions enriched in various rare earths. In addition, in some embodiments, similar processes may be used to separate the rare earths from thorium and uranium. Also, in some embodiments, liposomes may be used instead of and/or in addition to biomass.