How can the rare earth polishing powder in Inner Mongolia reduce environmental pollution?

Inner Mongolia, this vast land harbors globally renowned rare earth treasures, underpinning China’s strategic advantage in high-end manufacturing and technology. However, the exploitation and utilization of rare earth resources, particularly the production and use of rare earth polishing powder—known as the "industrial teeth"—have long been accompanied by severe environmental challenges. These include the unchecked flow of acidic wastewater from strong acid leaching, the accumulating threat of radioactive waste residues, and the significant loss of resources due to inefficient usage. Faced with the constraints of ecological red lines and the national "dual-carbon" goals, the green transformation of Inner Mongolia's rare earth polishing powder industry has become an imperative question concerning both resource security and ecological sustainability.

Innovation at the Source: Building a Clean Process Chain as the Foundation for Pollution Reduction  

The environmental harm caused by traditional acid dissolution processes is the most pressing issue. The industry in Inner Mongolia is actively promoting the replacement of concentrated sulfuric acid with hydrochloric acid cyclic leaching, significantly reducing the total volume of acidic wastewater. Advanced membrane separation and extraction technologies are being introduced to achieve efficient purification of rare earth elements and the regeneration of leaching agents, curbing pollution emissions at the source. Meanwhile, the development and adoption of environmentally friendly pretreatment technologies, such as low-temperature roasting and alkali decomposition, are reducing energy consumption and exhaust pollution from high-temperature roasting, painting the entire production chain with a green hue.

Process Optimization: Promoting Efficient Application as the Key to Resource Conservation 

The environmental footprint of polishing powder is closely tied to its consumption. On one hand, Inner Mongolian enterprises are dedicated to developing high-performance, long-lasting polishing powder products. By optimizing crystal structure and particle size distribution, the amount of powder required per unit of polishing effect is significantly reduced. On the other hand, the widespread adoption of intelligent polishing process control is being encouraged. Through online monitoring and feedback systems, the concentration, flow rate, and equipment parameters of polishing fluids are precisely regulated, preventing excessive use and waste of polishing powder and achieving "maximum utility," thereby indirectly alleviating environmental pressure.

Closed-Loop Recycling: Establishing a Recovery System as the Guarantee for Sustainable Development  

Used rare earth-containing polishing waste should not be the end point. Inner Mongolia is actively promoting the development of "urban mines." Professional recycling networks are being established in industrial hubs like Baotou to pilot the efficient enrichment of rare earths from waste such as LCD screens and optical glass. Collaborative research with institutions has led to breakthroughs in selective dissolution and gradient separation technologies, achieving a recovery rate of over 90% for rare earth elements (particularly cerium) from waste materials, while ensuring the safe solidification of radioactive thorium. This not only reduces the pressure on raw ore extraction but also transforms potential pollutants into valuable resources.

From the Bayan Obo mining area to the Baotou Rare Earth Zone, Inner Mongolia is driving the green and low-carbon transformation of the rare earth polishing powder industry with technological innovation as the engine. The regional government's promulgation of the "Several Opinions on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Rare Earth Industry" further accelerates this transformation through policy measures. When clean production, efficient application, and circular regeneration work in synergy, the rare earth polishing powder industry can shed its "environmental burden" and truly unleash the radiant potential of its strategic resources.

This "green revolution" in Inner Mongolia is not just about one region—it is a critical battle for China's rare earth industry to secure a sustainable competitive edge in the future. Only by adhering to the principle of protecting the environment while pursuing development, and developing while protecting it, can the light of rare earths continue to illuminate the path of human civilization for generations to come.