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Rising demand for rare earth elements: A review of microbial bioleaching alternatives

Vijayarathna, Pradeep Wishwanath Samarasekere

2026enbioleachingmicrobialrare earthenvironmentalsustainability

Abstract

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Rising demand for rare earth elements (REEs) and the severe environmental impact of conventional extraction from phosphate minerals have intensified the search for green alternatives. This study aimed to synthesize microbial mechanisms, metabolic constraints, and process determinants specific to phosphate matrices within the context of REE bioleaching. A PRISMA-guided systematic review was conducted, wherein a thorough search across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar identified peer-reviewed studies on microbial bioleaching of REEs. Out of 443 records identified, 25 studies met the inclusion criteria following screening and eligibility assessment. These studies were evaluated based on various factors including microbial species, metabolic mechanisms, culture conditions, mineral substrates, and REE solubilization performance. The results indicated that fungal species, particularly those from the Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Paecilomyces genera, demonstrated significant potential for bioleaching REEs from phosphate minerals. This review highlights the feasibility of employing microbial bioleaching as a sustainable alternative for REE extraction and underlines the necessity for more biotechnology-focused studies to optimize the extraction processes.

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Cite This Work

@article{47398c4e-4e28-475d-90f5-2ca09ff00990,
  title={Rising demand for rare earth elements: A review of microbial bioleaching alternatives},
  author={Vijayarathna and Pradeep Wishwanath Samarasekere},
  year={2026},
  language={en}
}
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Rising demand for rare earth elements: A review of microbial bioleaching alternatives
AU  - Vijayarathna
AU  - Pradeep Wishwanath Samarasekere
PY  - 2026
LA  - en
ER  -

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