Penn State scientists have engineered a game-changing protein, LanD, that can efficiently distinguish valuable rare earth elements like neodymium and praseodymium, transforming rare earth elements (REEs) separation and potentially revolutionizing the industry.

Central to this innovation is LanD, a protein capable of isolating specific REEs with unmatched efficiency. Not only could this approach streamline how industries access valuable REEs like neodymium—key to everything from renewable energy to smartphones—but it also promises to cut down on waste and pollution tied to conventional mining.

Led by chemistry professor Joseph Cotruvo, Jr., the Penn State team recently detailed LanD’s unique capabilities in PNAS. The protein can naturally “lock in” on light REEs, distinguishing the high-value metals neodymium and praseodymium from less valuable counterparts. The innovation goes beyond improving selectivity; it holds the potential to redefine industrial separation practices by offering a scalable, green alternative to traditional processes.

“Industrial REE separation relies on resource-heavy, often hazardous methods,” says Cotruvo. “A protein-based approach like LanD could make this process greener, more efficient, and economically viable.”

REEs, which include 17 distinct metals, are notoriously tricky to separate due to their similar chemical properties. However, with LanD’s specificity, Cotruvo’s lab has opened the door to an entirely different separation process, one that could even leverage REEs sourced from industrial byproducts or recycled tech.

Notably, LanD isn’t working solo in Cotruvo’s bioengineering vision. It’s complemented by LanM, a previously identified protein that can bind to all REEs but struggles to separate lighter ones. Together, LanD and LanM form a sorting system that not only prioritizes valuable metals but also protects bacterial cells from unwanted ones—a biological feature Cotruvo’s team has turned into a tech industry solution.

And the potential doesn’t stop there. Cotruvo’s lab is already enhancing LanD’s natural abilities. “We’ve engineered it to focus even more on neodymium,” he explains, “making it possible to recover this crucial REE from a mixed solution of light elements.”

This cutting-edge bioengineering breakthrough might pave the way for more eco-friendly REE separation on an industrial scale. Cotruvo envisions that by refining LanD’s binding site further, chemists could develop similar proteins to sort other hard-to-separate elements precisely.

“LanD is a promising way to modernize REE separation practices,” says Cotruvo. “And we’re making it even better, pushing toward a future of effective, greener rare earth mining.”