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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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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

This technical effort was performed in support of the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s ongoing research for the Department of Energy Rare Earth Elements Program. We thank Mary Anne Alvin (DOE Rare Earths Technology Manager), Thomas Tarka (REE FWP Technical Portfolio Lead), and Mark McKoy for their support. We would also like to thank Stanley Seers for providing the Isabella fines material. This research was supported in part by a postdoctoral appointment to the National Energy Technology Laboratory Research Participation Program, sponsored by the US Department of Energy and administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Energy Technology Laboratory, US DOE, Albany, OR, 97321, USA

    Jon Yang, Scott Montross & Circe Verba

  2. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 1450 SW Queen Ave, Albany, OR, 97321, USA

    Jon Yang

  3. Leidos Research Support Team, 1450 SW Queen Ave, Albany, OR, 97321, USA

    Scott Montross

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  1. Jon Yang
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  3. Circe Verba
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Correspondence to Jon Yang.

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This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the US Government. Neither the US Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the US Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the US Government or any agency thereof.

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Highlights

• Coal waste evaluated for REE extractability using organic acids.

• REE extraction with the citrate is independent of pH between pH 2 and 5.

• Citrate anion is competitive with (NH4)2SO4 in extraction of REE from these feedstocks.

• Ashing the coal fines feedstock results in a 5-fold increase in total REE mass recovered.

• EDTA can extract nearly 3 times greater amounts of REE on ashed feedstocks than citrate solutions but also higher levels of gangue elements.

• Inorganic mineral acids (HCl, H2SO4) are more effective at REE extraction from ashed material versus organic acids.

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Yang, J., Montross, S. & Verba, C. Assessing the Extractability of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Preparation Fines Refuse Using an Organic Acid Lixiviant. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 38, 1701–1709 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-021-00439-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-021-00439-2

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