Could the clean energy revolution be powered by wastewater?

Rare earth elements, a group of chemical elements, and other critical minerals are generally costly and difficult to procure and depend on complex supply chains. Yet some of these elements, such as lithium, are essential for technology from wind turbines to cellphones. Northeastern University researchers are proposing a new source for some of these critical materials: wastewater. The finding is especially critical as the world transitions to clean energy, the researchers said.