Success in Extracting Rare Earth Elements During the Manufacturing of Coal Ash Fiber
Shin-Nihon Sen'i succeeded in basic research to extract rare earth elements (REEs) during the production of its coal ash-based next-generation fiber, BASHFIBER, contributing to resource security and GX.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 11, 2026 at 00:30 (24h 30m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 23:53 (215h 22m after Collected)
New Japan Fiber Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Abiko City, Chiba Prefecture; Representative Director: Yutaka Fukazawa; hereinafter "Shin-Nihon Sen'i") announced today that it has succeeded in basic research to extract Rare-Earth Elements (REEs) during the manufacturing process of its self-developed, high-performance, and eco-friendly next-generation fiber, "BASHFIBER®".
"BASHFIBER®" primarily uses "coal ash," which is left over when coal is burned in coal-fired power plants and industrial boilers, as its raw material. As an upcycled material with high strength, heat resistance, and chemical resistance, it has expanding potential for use in a wide range of fields as a high-performance, eco-friendly next-generation fiber replacing materials like glass fiber.
To date, with grants from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)'s "Deep Tech Startup Support Program," Shin-Nihon Sen'i has been conducting mass production verification of "BASHFIBER®" and accumulating a track record in melt spinning*1 of coal ash.
*1: A method of spinning chemical fibers. A process where raw materials are heated and melted, extruded through a spinneret (nozzle), and stretched to form threads.
On the other hand, it has been academically known for some time that coal and coal ash contain REEs. In recent years, as the vulnerability of the global REEs supply chain has been recognized and the importance of its resilience has grown, actual attempts to extract REEs from coal and coal ash have become active in the United States. For example, in July 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a policy*2 to accelerate the commercialization of technologies to recover REEs from coal ash, and in November of the same year, announced funding of $355 million*3.
*2: Published July 16, 2025 - A New Chapter for Coal: Commercialization Opportunities from DOE Labs
*3: Announced November 14, 2025 - Energy Department Announces $355 Million to Expand Domestic Production of Critical Minerals and Materials
Shin-Nihon Sen'i has also been continuing basic research to extract REEs during the process of manufacturing "BASHFIBER®," and has now succeeded in separating and recovering REEs. The technology being researched and developed by Shin-Nihon Sen'i demonstrates that critical mineral resources, REEs, can be recovered from an energy/industrial byproduct—coal ash—using a method different from that of the United States. With the further advancement of research and development, this is expected to contribute to resource security and GX (Green Transformation).
Keywords: Shin-Nihon Sen'i, coal ash fiber, rare earth elements, rare earths, BASHFIBER®, coal ash, REEs, upcycled material, radiation shielding resistance, deep tech
"BASHFIBER®" primarily uses "coal ash," which is left over when coal is burned in coal-fired power plants and industrial boilers, as its raw material. As an upcycled material with high strength, heat resistance, and chemical resistance, it has expanding potential for use in a wide range of fields as a high-performance, eco-friendly next-generation fiber replacing materials like glass fiber.
To date, with grants from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)'s "Deep Tech Startup Support Program," Shin-Nihon Sen'i has been conducting mass production verification of "BASHFIBER®" and accumulating a track record in melt spinning*1 of coal ash.
*1: A method of spinning chemical fibers. A process where raw materials are heated and melted, extruded through a spinneret (nozzle), and stretched to form threads.
On the other hand, it has been academically known for some time that coal and coal ash contain REEs. In recent years, as the vulnerability of the global REEs supply chain has been recognized and the importance of its resilience has grown, actual attempts to extract REEs from coal and coal ash have become active in the United States. For example, in July 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a policy*2 to accelerate the commercialization of technologies to recover REEs from coal ash, and in November of the same year, announced funding of $355 million*3.
*2: Published July 16, 2025 - A New Chapter for Coal: Commercialization Opportunities from DOE Labs
*3: Announced November 14, 2025 - Energy Department Announces $355 Million to Expand Domestic Production of Critical Minerals and Materials
Shin-Nihon Sen'i has also been continuing basic research to extract REEs during the process of manufacturing "BASHFIBER®," and has now succeeded in separating and recovering REEs. The technology being researched and developed by Shin-Nihon Sen'i demonstrates that critical mineral resources, REEs, can be recovered from an energy/industrial byproduct—coal ash—using a method different from that of the United States. With the further advancement of research and development, this is expected to contribute to resource security and GX (Green Transformation).
Keywords: Shin-Nihon Sen'i, coal ash fiber, rare earth elements, rare earths, BASHFIBER®, coal ash, REEs, upcycled material, radiation shielding resistance, deep tech