Preface

The book "Rare Earth Elements and Their Minerals" presents a compelling insight into the rapidly evolving discipline of rare earth elements (REE) and their technology utilization. The chapter "Organic and Inorganic Rare Earth Element Hydrolysis and Complexation in Surface and Groundwater: A Review with Chemical Thermodynamic Simulations" observes the complexity of understanding REE in the aqueous environment, focusing on transport potential, biological availability, and system reactivity towards changes in pH, oxidation-reduction, chemical composition, mineralogy (facies) changes, or anthropogenic alteration. Similarly, the chapter "Allanite from Granitic Rocks of the Moldanubian Batholith (Central European Variscan Belt)" demonstrates the complexity of REE accumulation as a mineable ore material and the global search for these valuable deposits.

Subsequent chapters focus on REE synthetic analogues for use in advanced technologies and medical applications. The chapter "An Efficient Route for Synthesis of Macrocyclic Gadolinium Complex and Their Role in Medical Applications" observed the coordination chemistry of gadolinium as applied to contrast agents for usage in magnetic resonance imaging. Similarly, the chapter "Current Clinical Issues: Deposition of Gadolinium Chelates" focuses on the effects of gadolinium-chelate based contrast agents on nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and brain deposition. The chapter "Application of the Gadolinium Isotopes Nuclei Neutron-induced Excitation Process" investigates the creation of laser technology for pulse power engineering. Lastly the chapter "Gd2O3: A Luminescent Material" researched the structural and optical behavior of a Gd2O3 nanophosphor to detail its photoluminescence to position its usage as a phosphor for dosimetric applications.

> **Dr. Michael Aide** Professor of Agriculture, Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri, USA

> > **Dr. Tahito Nakajima** Gunma University Hospital, Gunma, Japan

**1**

Section 1

Rare Earth Elements

and the Environment

Section 1
