Assessing the Extractability of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Preparation Fines Refuse Using an Organic Acid Lixiviant

Yang, Jonathan; Montross, Scott; Verba, Circe

doi:10.1007/s42461-021-00439-2

Assessing the Extractability of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Preparation Fines Refuse Using an Organic Acid Lixiviant

Journal Article · Tue Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2021 · Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-021-00439-2· OSTI ID:1864274

^[1]; Montross, Scott ^[2]; Verba, Circe ^[3]

National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Albany, OR (United States); Oak Ridge Inst. for Science and Education (ORISE), Albany, OR (United States)
National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Albany, OR (United States); Leidos Research Support Team, Albany, OR (United States)
National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Albany, OR (United States)

We report that this work is a first-order study to assess the suitability of an organic acid lixiviant to extract rare earth elements (REE) from coal preparation fines refuse sourced from a Pennsylvania mine with a total REE of ~ 300 ppm. The extraction of REE using an organic acid, in this case 0.1 M citric acid and 0.5 M trisodium citrate solution, is compared against 0.5 M (NH₄)₂SO₄, 1 M HCl, 1.2 M H₂SO₄, and 0.5 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Ashing the coal waste material prior to leaching tests with the citrate solution nominally improved REE extraction. Buffered citrate solution recovered 7% of the total REE in the as-received Isabella Fines as compared to 11% in ashed samples, whereas (NH₄)₂SO₄ extracted 5–6%, respectively. EDTA recovered up to 33% of the total REE, most likely due to the higher coordination chelate bond. Mineral acids, however, outperformed the organic acids on ashed material (16–52% REE recovery), suggesting that organic acids may not be a suitable competitive option for REE extraction from these types of feedstocks.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

OSTI ID:: 1864274

Report Number(s):: DOE/NETL-2021/2870

Journal Information:: Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, Journal Name: Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 38; ISSN 2524-3462

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Assessing the Extractability of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Preparation Fines Refuse Using an Organic Acid Lixiviant

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