Contents

**Preface XI**



Preface

This book deals with the topic of lanthanides through six chapters. The first chapter is a short introduction that explains the nature and purpose of the book and the logic and signif‐ icance of its contents. The second chapter by Katarzyna Kiegiel et al. introduces novel appa‐ ratus solutions, for example membrane contactors in the extraction stage and different types of matrices (uranium ore, phosphorites, etc.). The chapter focuses on the fundamental ac‐ tions aimed at ensuring continuity of rare earth element (REE) supply, i.e. exploration and exploitation of new deposits, reduction of consumption of these precious metals in techno‐ logical processes, and their recovery from waste, which are very important from an econom‐ ic point of view. The third chapter by Dariusz Sala and Bogusław Bieda from AGH University of Science and Technology, Management Department, Poland, describes the de‐ velopment of life cycle inventory (LCI) to REEs based on secondary sources, conducted ac‐ cording to ISO 14040 (2006) guidelines. This chapter comes with many figures and charts that indicate many aspects referring to uncertainty in the input parameters used to create the LCI of REE recovery processes from secondary sources. The focus of this study is de‐ fined in its goal and scope, and was developed using primary and secondary data. Chapter 4 concentrates on lanthanide soil chemistry and shows how the soil chemistry of REEs may support soil science investigations. In this chapter, the author tackles another important field of lanthanide science that addresses lanthanide elements or REEs as an active soil sci‐ ence research area, given their usage as microfertilizers, documented cases of environmental impact attributed to industry/mining, and their ability to identify lithological discontinuities and reveal active soil processes. Dmitry V. Ladonin in Chapter 5 studies the content of forms of lanthanides in soddy-calcareous soils at different distances from the Cherepovets steel mill (Vologda region, Russia). The author concludes that the individual properties of lanthanides are clearly manifested in their interaction with the soil components. The largest part of the fraction, bound to organic matter, contains medium lanthanides, while the heavy lanthanides are bound to Fe and Mn (hydr)oxides. The last chapter discusses ecological and physiological impacts of lanthanides on algae as primary producers in aquatic environ‐ ments. This study summarizes knowledge of positive and toxic effects of lanthanides on al‐ gae to better elucidate their biological roles. Various applications and methods of use,

including the possibility of remediation and lanthanide recycling, are also suggested.

much knowledge to lanthanides and their applications in our lives.

This book will definitely encourage readers, researchers, and scientists to look further into the frontier topics of lanthanides and opens new possible research paths for further novel development. Finally, the book's editors would like to express their appreciation to the con‐ tributors and the IntechOpen Author Service Manager. We hope this book will contribute

> **Nasser S. Awwad and Ahmed T. Mubarak** Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science

> > King Khalid University Abha, Saudi Arabia
