Researchers from Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering have discovered a way to extract rare-earth elements—essential ingredients for nearly all modern electronics—from the ash left behind at coal-burning power plants using a non-toxic ionic liquid.

The American Chemical Society has honored a School of Civil and Environmental Engineering doctoral student for his research productivity and academic performance

Assistant Professor Xing Xie has received the Emerging Investigator Award from the Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization.

The Emerging Investigator Award recognizes scientists and engineers that have demonstrated significant impact on research, teaching, service and leadership in the field of sustainable nanotechnology.

Decarbonizing U.S. electricity production will require both construction of renewable energy sources and retirement of power plants now operated by fossil fuels. A generator-level model described in the Dec. 4 issue of the journal Science suggests that most fossil fuel power plants could complete normal lifespans and still close by 2035 because so many facilities are nearing the end of their operational lives.