Elemental Analysis of Contaminated Biomass Ashes for Phytomining of Rare Earth Elements

Phytomining of rare earth elements (REEs) provides a potential possibility for metal recovery at brownfields where conventional mining technique is not reasonable or profitable. The holistic concept of phytomining is instituted from three scientific sectors. Phytoextraction is the first stage referred to accumulation of REEs in plants. This is followed by the enrichment process aiming to elevate metal concentration into solid remains. Eventually, extraction technology is applied to reclaim these valuable metals from the bio-ores. The main goal of this study is to identify a possible location for REEs phytomining, which lays the groundwork for further investigations. To do that, different woody biomass from disparate contaminated spots was harvested and examined. A brownfield land located in Gyöngyösoroszi, Hungary has been selected based on the elemental analysis of ash samples obtained from the incineration of the collected plants at 500 °C. The outcomes also preliminarily indicate the viability of phytomining in recovering REEs.