U.S. Scientists Develop Seawater Technology to Challenge China's Rare Earth Dominance
The United States is developing a new technology to extract critical minerals from seawater, aiming to reduce dependence on China, which controls 85-95% of global rare earth refining. Scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have created a co-flow reactor that extracts high-purity magnesium hydroxide from seawater. When paired with California's Carlsbad desalination plant, the technology could produce 1.16 million pounds of magnesium hydroxide daily—more than triple current U.S. consumption. The process could also be adapted to extract nickel and lithium. China's dominance extends to cobalt (68%), nickel (65%), and EV-battery-grade lithium (60%), creating geopolitical risks. Global demand for critical minerals is projected to double or quadruple by 2040, driven by clean energy and electric vehicles. The technology offers scalability due to seawater's consistent chemical composition worldwide.
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