Lanthanum
Lanthanum, the first member of the Lanthanide series, is recovered from the Bastnasite mineral by solvent extraction. Lanthanum is a strategically important rare earth element due to its activity in catalysts needed to create fuel for vehicles and aircraft. This lanthanide is also key to energy providing alloys used everyday in fuel cells and batteries. Should electric vehicles become a staple in the future, they will most likely use Lanthanum-rich, energy-efficient battery materials for power generation.Electric vehicles may one day consume large quantities of Lanthanum for power storage.

The most active petroleum cracking catalysts, that help create fuel needed to run our vehicles, rely on Lanthanum-rich material. These catalysts represent the major use of Lanthanum and are responsible for eliminating leaded gasoline from our environment. The use of these Lanthanide fluidized cracking catalysts also promotes very energy efficient petroleum cracking.

Lanthanum provides optical lens designers with more flexibility than ever before because Lanthanum is the key to modifying glass crystal structure and the refractive index. Advances in the quality of high-tech digital cameras, video cameras, and many other sensitive optical applications would not be possible without Lanthanum or other rare earths.

Lanthanum comprises part of the alloy structure that can be used in fuel cells. The alloys can store hydrogen at many times their own volume thus creating efficient energy sources. Lanthanum also provides the classic inter-metallic hydride used in NiMH rechargeable batteries. One of the more common uses of these types of batteries is in laptop computers. Lanthanum nickel alloys have the outstanding hydrogen storage properties needed for longer battery life.

Lanthanum phosphors are used in X-ray films and certain lasers to help reduce the dose of radiation to patients by up to 75%. MRI, CAT, and sonogram imaging presentation techniques depend on Lanthanum or other Lanthanide products.