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Alta Resource breaks down e-waste for rare earth metals that electronics need
Nvidia, Apple, and the Pentagon want more rare earth metals. Alta says it can capture more of the critical minerals from low-grade sources than other methods.
Alta claims it has developed a way to extract rare earth elements from low-grade supplies more efficiently than current refining techniques, which tend to rely on toxic chemicals applied over dozens of steps. The company, which until now has operated in stealth, instead uses a series of proteins that are specially designed to latch onto rare earth elements, whether they’re from virgin ore or electronic waste. Though Alta won’t be able to shift rare earth refining back to the U.S. overnight, Ratledge is optimistic that his company can produce enough metal to help the Pentagon breathe easier.
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