Distribution and speciation of rare earth elements in coal combustion by-products via synchrotron microscopy and spectroscopy

Stuckman, Mengling Y.; Lopano, Christina L.; Granite, Evan J.

doi:10.1016/j.coal.2018.06.001

Distribution and speciation of rare earth elements in coal combustion by-products via synchrotron microscopy and spectroscopy

Journal Article · Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · International Journal of Coal Geology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2018.06.001· OSTI ID:1478326

^[1]; Lopano, Christina L. ^[2]; Granite, Evan J. ^[2]

National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Research and Innovation Center; AECOM, Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Research and Innovation Center

Rare earth element (REE) binding environments and associated mineral phases in coal and coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) are not well understood. Advanced characterization of REEs' binding environments before, during, and after production can be vital in establishing an economically viable recovery method for REEs from these materials. Here, this study characterized different REE distributions, cerium (Ce) oxidation states, and Ce binding environments in 11 CCBs collected from various locales via X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental mapping and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL). Bulk Ce LIII edge XANES identified Ce(III) (>85%) as the predominant Ce oxidation state in all studied samples. Ce speciation and XRF elemental map analyses further reveal the REEs in studied samples can be (1) dispersed throughout the aluminosilicate glass phase, (2) as micro-particles in large glass grain, or (3) as independent trace phases in studied samples. Both fly ash and bottom ash contain mainly Ce(III) micro-hotspots (<40 μm), co-localization with a range of elements, including, but not limited to: P, S, Ca, Ti, and Mn. At microscale, Ce can change from Ce(III) to mixture of Ce(III) and Ce(IV) and to 100% Ce(IV) oxide, revealing potential REE-phase decomposition and oxidation in coal and coal combustion process. Our study also observed intraparticle and interparticle distribution difference between light REEs and heavy REEs. Finally, the synchrotron-based characterization confirmed the presence of these trace, previously only theorized, phases during the combustion process and ultimately may inform the simplification of separation and extraction processes for REE from different CCBs.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0004000

OSTI ID:: 1478326

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1564518

Journal Information:: International Journal of Coal Geology, Journal Name: International Journal of Coal Geology Journal Issue: C Vol. 195; ISSN 0166-5162

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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