Technoeconomic Assessment of a Sequential Step-Leaching Process for Rare Earth Element Extraction from Acid Mine Drainage Precipitates

Fritz, Alison G.; Tarka, Thomas J.; Mauter, Meagan S.

doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c02069

Title: Technoeconomic Assessment of a Sequential Step-Leaching Process for Rare Earth Element Extraction from Acid Mine Drainage Precipitates

Journal Article · Fri Jul 02 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c02069· OSTI ID:1922832

^[1]; Tarka, Thomas J. ^[2];

^[3]

National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Albany, OR (United States); Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Albany, OR (United States)
Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

Herein, Coal waste products have been studied as a new source of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and other Critical Minerals (CM) essential for the development of renewable energy technologies, but the economic viability of these source materials is not well understood. This paper examines the technoeconomic performance of a novel process for rare earth element extraction from acid mine drainage precipitates (AMDp) in the Appalachian Coal Basin. The three phase extraction process includes excavation and transportation of AMDp, multi-phase pH driven step-leaching of REEs at ambient conditions, and commercial solvent extraction to produce a saleable grade rare earth oxide material that can be reduced to a pure metal. We estimate the life-cycle cost of bench-scale extraction of REEs from two representative Appalachian AMDp feedstock chemistries at between 4000 – 6000 $/kg of mixed REE concentrate produced. Both the AMDp composition and process parameters affect the profitability of REE extraction, with the REE concentration and distribution of REE in the feedstock, extraction and precipitation reagent consumption rates, and the potential for reagent recycling as the key variables. Economically profitable valorization of REE from AMDp will require a combination of continued process innovation and sizable financial incentives to substantially influence domestic supply of REEs.

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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:: 1922832

Journal Information:: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 9, Issue 28; ISSN 2168-0485

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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Title: Technoeconomic Assessment of a Sequential Step-Leaching Process for Rare Earth Element Extraction from Acid Mine Drainage Precipitates

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