The uses, applications, and demand for rare-earth elements have expanded over the years. This is mainly due to the benefits of rare-earth elements in low-carbon technologies. Some important uses of rare-earth elements are applicable to the production of high-performance magnets, catalysts, alloys, glasses, and electronics. Nd is necessary in magnet production. Rare-earth elements in this category are used in the electric motors of hybrid vehicles, wind turbines, hard disc drives, portable electronics, microphones, speakers. Ce and La are essential as catalysts and are used for petroleum refining and as diesel additives. Ce, La, and Nd are virtual in alloy making and fuel cells and Nickel-metal hydride batteries. Ce, Ga, and Nd are important in electronics and are used in the production of LCD and plasma screens, fiber optics, lasers, and medical imaging. Additional uses for earth elements are as tracers in medical applications, fertilizers, and water treatment. The common benefits of Rare Earths are listed below:

Scandium: Aerospace framework, high-intensity street lamps, high-performance equipment.

Yttrium: TV sets, cancer treatment drugs, enhances strength of alloys.

Lanthanum: Camera lenses, battery-electrodes, hydrogen storage.

Cerium: Catalytic converters, colored glass, steel production.

Praseodymium: Super-strong magnets, welding goggles, lasers.

Neodymium: Extremely strong permanent magnets, microphones, electric motors of hybrid automobiles, laser.

Samarium: Cancer treatment, nuclear reactor control rods, X-ray lasers.

Europium: Color TV screens, fluorescent glass, genetic screening tests.

Gadolinium: Shielding in nuclear reactors, nuclear marine propulsion, increases durability of alloys.

Terbium: TV sets, fuel cells, sonar systems.

Dysprosium: Commercial lighting, hard disk devices, transducers.

Holmium: Lasers, glass coloring, High-strength magnets.

Erbium: Glass colorant, signal amplification for fiber optic cables, metallurgical uses.

Thulium: High-efficiency lasers, portable x-ray machines, high temperature superconductor.

Ytterbium: Improves stainless steel, lasers, ground monitoring devices.

Since El Wady Phosphoric acid Project relies on the Continuous Ion Exchange (CIX) purification scheme, most of these cationic elements are being adsorbed on the resin's surface together with the other metallic impurities. The resin is regenerated using diluted Sulfuric Acid to return to the purification of the phosphoric acid cycle. Simultaneously, the spent regeneration solution takes the bulk of impurities together with the REEs to an effluent stream.

K-Technologies indicated that this Minor Elements Sulfate effluent stream could be used as a feedstock for a CIX system dedicated to recovering REEs, especially the most expensive one.

AT-PHOS is putting the scheme mentioned above on the top of its future expansion plans and welcoming any external party interested in participating.