Available for Licensing - Electrochemical Rare Earth Recovery from Coal Fly Ash: Turn Waste Stockpiles into Critical Materials Revenue
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has issued a Special Notice seeking industrial partners to license and commercialize a patent-pending electrochemical process for Rare Earth Element (REE) recovery from coal fly ash. This technology aims to transform waste stockpiles into critical materials revenue. Responses are due May 1, 2026.
Technology Overview & Scope
INL researchers have developed an electrochemical process that selectively extracts REEs from coal fly ash leachate using electricity, eliminating the need for chemical reagents. The technology employs tuned anodic electrosorption with functionalized mesoporous carbon electrodes, achieving superior separation of REEs from competing metal ions. This addresses the challenge of inefficient, costly, and environmentally unsustainable traditional extraction methods.
Key Advantages over Conventional Solvent Extraction:
- Separation Factor: ~7 (vs. typically <10, requiring 50-200 cycles)
- Processing Time: Hours (vs. days to weeks)
- Operation: Electricity-driven, reagent-free (vs. heavy reliance on chemicals)
- Waste: Minimal generation (vs. significant hazardous waste)
- System: Compact, modular design (vs. large footprint, batch-based)
- Environmental: Lower disposal burden and ESG-aligned operation
Additional Benefits: 60% recovery efficiency, reusable electrodes, lower operating costs, and faster time to revenue.
Market Applications
- Coal Power Plants: Convert fly ash from a liability to a revenue stream.
- REE Recovery Companies: Replace chemical extraction with cleaner, faster processing.
- Environmental Remediation: Applicable to mining tailings and contaminated soils.
- Critical Materials Supply Chain: Support domestic REE sourcing for defense and electronics.
- Broad Applicability: Suitable for any complex mixed-ion separation challenge.
Development & Licensing
- Current Stage: Laboratory-scale validation underway.
- Next Step: Pilot-scale demonstration with a commercial partner.
INL is seeking industrial partners for licensing and commercialization. INL does not procure services as part of its collaboration agreements.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice (Licensing Opportunity)
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Response Due: May 1, 2026, 06:00 AM Z
- Published: March 4, 2026, 09:26 PM Z
- Agency: Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory
- Contact: Javier Martinez (javier.martinez@inl.gov)