# MIT spinoff finds cleaner way to extract rare earths

> Phoenix Tailings uses an electrochemical process to pull rare earth metals from mining waste without toxins or carbon emissions.
- Title: MIT spinoff finds cleaner way to extract rare earths
- Summary: Phoenix Tailings uses an electrochemical process to pull rare earth metals from mining waste without toxins or carbon emissions. Phoenix Tailings, founded by…
- Keywords: phoenix tailings, rare earth metals, mining waste, sustainable metallurgy, electrochemical processing, mit spinoff, technology, science, MIT, spinoff, finds, cleaner
- Source: MIT Technology Review — https://technologyreview.com/2026/10/20/1145300/a-cleaner-path-to-rare-earth-metals
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: phoenix tailings, rare earth metals, mining waste, sustainable metallurgy, electrochemical processing, mit spinoff, technology, science
## From smog to solutions
Tomás Villalón Jr. grew up in San Antonio but remembers smog over Monterrey, Mexico, where his family came from. The steel and metal fabrication hub's pollution shaped his career path toward sustainable metallurgy.

> I'm motivated because I've seen what metal-making does
## Phoenix Tailings tackles mining waste
In two thousand nineteen, Villalón cofounded Phoenix Tailings with Michelle Chao, Nick Myers, and Anthony Balladon. The company developed an efficient process for extracting rare earth metals from mining waste.

> The mining ecosystem by itself makes over several billion tons of waste
## A carbon-free extraction method
Phoenix Tailings uses a proprietary electrochemical technique to process rare earths. The company asserts the method generates no toxins and is carbon-free when powered by renewable energy sources.
## Key takeaway

Phoenix Tailings, founded by MIT alumni, has developed a carbon-free electrochemical process to extract rare earth metals from mining waste, addressing billions of tons of pollution from the mining industry.