A Phyto Finish: Could Seaweed Be Mined for Critical Minerals? - CleanTechnica

The article discusses research by scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the University of Alaska Fairbanks investigating the potential of seaweed to accumulate rare earth elements (REEs) near Bokan Mountain, Alaska—a former uranium mining site known for its rich REE deposits. REEs are critical minerals used in everyday electronics and defense technologies, but traditional mining is costly and environmentally challenging. The team collected seaweed and water samples from Moira Bay to study which seaweed species absorb these minerals most effectively and to understand the physiological and geochemical mechanisms behind this accumulation. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency, the researchers aim to develop biomimetic or bioinspired methods for extracting REEs from seawater, potentially enabling future cultivation of mineral-rich seaweed as a sustainable alternative to conventional mining. This approach, called ocean phytomining, could help meet growing demand for critical minerals while reducing environmental impact. The study highlights the surprising biodiversity of marine life