FUTURE PROSPECTS OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS IN COAL AND COAL ASH: BASED ON MAPPING OF GLOBAL RESEARCH (1973-2023)

Abstract

As industrial activities continue to expand, there is a growing demand for Rare Earth Elements (REEs). However, REE resources are rapidly depleting, leading to a search for alternative sources. Notably, REEs are found in significant quantities in coal, a fossil fuel with substantial global reserves and active extraction operations. Some countries, particularly China, extract REEs from coal, indicating its potential as an alternative REE source soon. The increasing number of academic research studies on this topic further underscores its importance. This study aims to analyze global academic research on REEs in coal and coal ash from 1973 to 2023 using bibliometric analysis to identify future trends. Data from the WoS database was utilized to ensure objective and comprehensive results. The research encompassed various aspects such as document type, country of origin, co-authors, institutions, citations, keywords, journals, and WoS categories. The findings suggest that coal could emerge as a significant REE source with sustainable and environmentally conscious practices, potentially forming a widespread business network.

Keywords

• Coal
• Rare Earth Elements
• REEs
• Bibliometric Analysis

KÖMÜR VE KÖMÜR KÜLÜNDEKİ NADİR TOPRAK ELEMENTLERİNİN KÜRESEL ARAŞTIRMALARIN HARİTALANMASINA DAYALI GELECEK GÖRÜNÜMÜ (1973-2023)

Abstract

Gelişen endüstriyel faaliyetler ile NTE’lere (Nadir Toprak Element) olan ihtiyaç da aynı oranda artmaktadır. NTE kaynakları hızla tükenmekte ve alternatif kaynak arayışları ortaya çıkmaktadır. Global çapta büyük rezerve sahip ve aktif olarak işletilmekte olan fosil kökenli yakıt kaynaklarından biri olan kömürde de NTE’ler azımsanmayacak oranda bulunmaktadır. Çin başta olmak üzere bazı ülkeler kömürden NTE üretimi yapmaktadır. Kömürün önümüzdeki yıllarda önemli bir alternatif NTE kaynağı olması muhtemeldir. Konu ile ilgili çok sayıda akademik araştırma yapılıyor olması da bunun bir göstergesidir. Bu çalışma 1973-2023 yılları arasında kömür ve kömür külündeki NTE’ler ile ilgili global çapta yapılan akademik araştırmaların bibliyometrik analiz ile irdelenmesi, gelecek beklentilerin saptanması amacıyla yapılmıştır. Çalışmada objektif ve kapsamlı sonuçların elde edilebilmesi adına WoS veri tabanından çekilen veriler kullanılmıştır. Yapılan araştırmalar doküman türü, ülke, ortak yazar, enstitü, atıf, anahtar kelimeler, dergi, WoS kategorisi gibi çok yönlü olarak incelenmiştir. Kömürün sürdürülebilir ve çevresel yaklaşımlarla NTE kaynağı olarak yaygın bir işletme ağına sahip olması muhtemeldir.

Keywords

• Kömür
• Nadir Toprak Elementleri
• NTE
• Bibliometrik Analiz

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