Rare Earth Filtration Solutions for Critical Mineral Processing

Why is rare earth filtration more important than ever?

The growing strategic value of rare earths

Rare earth elements (REEs) are the invisible driving force behind many of today’s revolutionary technologies – from electric vehicles and wind turbines to advanced electronics and defense systems. As governments and industries move toward decarbonization, ensuring a stable and sustainable supply of these critical minerals has become a geopolitical and industrial priority.

Although REEs are not rare in terms of abundance, their extraction and purification are complex. They are found in difficult-to-process ores such as bastnäsite or monazite and require chemical separation processes, often through alkaline or acidic leaching, before being refined into usable compounds. A central step in these processes is solid-liquid separation.

Filtration technology at the heart of the rare earth supply chain

After ores are ground and leached, the resulting slurry contains valuable dissolved REE salts as well as insoluble residues. Efficiently separating these solids without product loss is critical both for process performance and economic viability.

DrM’s FUNDABAC® candle filters offer a proven solution to this challenge. Designed for aggressive chemical environments and high-temperature applications, they provide fully enclosed, automated operation with strong particle retention and efficient cake washing. This results in higher product yield, improved safety, and reduced maintenance needs in rare earth processing plants.

FUNDABAC® filters sharply and safely remove insoluble gangue material from REE-rich liquors.

Global trends demand more smarter processing

The focus on rare earths is not only technical but also strategic. More than 85% of the world’s REE refining capacity is currently concentrated in China, creating vulnerabilities for other industrial economies. In response, the United States, Australia, the European Union, and others are investing in regional supply chains and processing infrastructure.

As new facilities are built, the demand for reliable and scalable separation technologies grows. FUNDABAC® filters are already serving critical separation steps in projects across Asia, North America, and Europe, offering flexible solutions for both new and existing systems.

Beyond rare earths: a broader role in critical minerals

DrM filtration systems extend beyond rare earths. From lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide used in EV batteries to high-purity manganese, cobalt, and nickel compounds, FUNDABAC® and CONTIBAC® filters are applied across the full spectrum of critical minerals.

These systems also support sustainability efforts, such as recycling brine, dewatering slurries, and enabling circular processing strategies that reduce environmental impact and resource waste.

Supporting the energy transition

According to the IEA, global demand for critical minerals could quadruple by 2040. Meeting this demand will require not only increased extraction but also more efficient and reliable processing technologies.

Filtration plays a central role in this challenge. DrM is proud to support the world’s transition to clean energy with advanced filtration systems that ensure technical performance, operational safety, and long-term reliability.