The U.S. Department of Defense has announced a $4.22 million award to Rare Earth Salts in Beatrice, Neb., for developing and expanding production of terbium oxide from recycled fluorescent light bulbs.
Terbium is an essential element for rare earth magnets in many key defense systems. It makes up less than 1% of the total rare earth content in most deposits.
“This award adds a domestic source for one of the most difficult-to-obtain rare earth elements,” said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. “Rare Earth Salts’ capability will help the United States establish a mine-to-magnet supply chain without reliance on foreign sources of material.”
Rare Earth Salts is uniquely positioned as one of the only terbium oxide producers outside of China and uses environmentally conscious recycling processes. As co-products, the company will also recover the rare earths lanthanum, cerium, europium, and yttrium, each with their own applications in commercial industry and defense.
This effort is funded through the Defense Production Act Investment (DPAI) office and aligns with the National Defense Industrial Strategy’s priority of increasing supply chain resilience by expanding domestic production and sustainment of critical production.
Source: Department of Defense