Investigation of waste-derived adsorbents for removal of NORM and non-regulated elements from mining wastewater

The growing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) has led to an increase in mining activities, raising significant environmental concerns, particularly related to wastewater (WW) management. Mining WW can contain a complex mixture of contaminants, including naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), heavy metals, and organic compounds, which pose potential risks to both human health and the environment. Among various treatment approaches, adsorption is widely recognized for its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and broad applicability. In this study, a range of adsorbents including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), biochar, chitosan, zeolite, various biomasses, activated carbon, silica gel, and Fe₃O₄ were investigated for their potential to remove these contaminants. The goal is to evaluate and optimize the most effective adsorption process, either individually or in combination, for treating REE mining WW. This work contributes to the development of efficient, sustainable methods for mitigating the environmental impact of REE extraction.