Rejection of rare earth elements from a simulated acid mine drainage using forward osmosis: The role of membrane orientation, solution pH, and temperature variation

•FO could effectively remove rare earth elements from acid mine drainage solution.•Greater water flux was obtained at AL-DS mode, low pH, and high solution temperature.•The rejection of REEs in the AL-DS mode was lower than that in the AL-FS mode.•The rejection efficiency of dysprosium was significantly impacted by solution pH.