The CMI focus area Diversifying Supply researches how to expand sources of rare earth elements and critical materials, develop transformative processes and find new uses for co-products. Researchers leading projects in Diversifying Supply are located at Ames Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Colorado School of Mines, Missouri S&T, and University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
News & Highlights
In the News
DOE invests millions in America’s massive lithium-production potential
CMI trains students in critical materials research at Ames
Chemical laboratory automation accelerates process development
Microbial transformation of soluble tellurium demonstrated
In the News
CMI researcher Sheng Dai named DOE 2022 Office of Science Distinguished Scientist Fellow
Research Projects
CMI Project 1.1.11: Lithium extraction and conversion from brines
Parans Paranthaman at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the CMI project "Lithium extraction and conversion from brines"
CMI Project 1.1.12: Critical material recovery from ores and lean sources
Vyacheslav Bryantsev at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the CMI Project "Critical material recovery from ores and lean sources"
CMI Project 1.1.14: Biologically-mediated recovery of tellurium from mine waste
Yoshiko Fujita at Idaho National Laboratory leads the CMI project "Biologically-mediated recovery of tellurium from mine waste"
CMI Project 1.1.15: Physio-chemical beneficiation of cobalt-bearing Iron Creek ores
Corby Anderson at Colorado School of Mines leads the CMI project "Physio-chemical beneficiation of cobalt-bearing Iron Creek ores"
CMI Project 1.1.17: Dissolution by design: selective leaching of rare earth elements using smart lixiviants
Nikki Thiele at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads "Dissolution by design: selective leaching of rare earth elements using smart lixiviants"
CMI Project 1.1.18: Gallium, indium and germanium extraction from zinc residue produced for steel wastes
Michael Moats at Missouri S&T leads the project "Gallium, indium, and germanium extraction from zinc residue produced for steel wastes"
CMI Project 1.2.11: New in-silico molecular design methods for improved separations
Marilu Perez at Ames Laboratory leads the CMI Project "New in-silico molecular design methods for improved separations"
CMI Project 1.2.14: Enhanced separation of critical materials
Santa Jansone-Popova at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the CMI project "Enhanced separation of critical materials"
CMI Project 1.2.15: Unlocking domestic cobalt production through electrochemical capture of arsenic
Luis Diaz Aldana at Idaho National Laboratory leads the CMI project "Unlocking domestic cobalt production through electrochemical capture of arsenic"
CMI Project 1.2.16: Mechanochemical extraction of lithium at low temperature (MELLT) from chemical-grade domestic α-spodumenes
Vitalij Pecharsky at Ames Laboratory leads the CMI project "Mechanochemical extraction of lithium at low temperature (MELLT) from chemical-grade domestic α-spodumenes"