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Title: Development of a Cost-Effective Extraction Process for the Recovery of Heavy and Critical Rare Earth Elements from the Clays and Shales Associated with Coal

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1635262· OSTI ID:1635262
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)

The primary objective of the project was to investigate and develop a novel process technology that can extract and concentrate rare earth elements (REE) from coal refuse material, namely shales and clays, to a concentration of greater than or equal to 2% by weight. The extraction and recovery technologies developed in this project leverage the low-cost ion-exchange leaching techniques that are currently applied for commercial heavy rare earth production in South China. In addition to the ion-exchange extraction technology, the project also investigated a novel method of solution concentration and recovery based on ion and/or precipitate flotation.

Research Organization:
Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)
DOE Contract Number:
FE0031523; FOA-0001718
OSTI ID:
1635262
Report Number(s):
DOE-Virginia Tech-31523
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English