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A Brazilian coal fly ash as a potential source of rare earth elements

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Abstract

Rare earth elements (REEs) have several applications and their market demands have increased. Recently, coal fly ash (CFA) has been considered as a source of these elements. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the REEs content in a CFA from a Brazilian coal power plant by instrumental neutron analysis, to classify it according to commercial purposes and to assess the weathering impact in the REEs content, since it is held in fields nearby the power plant. The results pointed no significant REEs leachability and indicated this CFA as a promising REEs source.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation). We are grateful to Cambui Coal Company (Companhia Carbonifera Cambui) for permission to carry out this project. The author C.N Lange thanks for the fellowship from the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Comission (CNEN).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, (IPEN-CNEN/SP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 2242, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil

    Camila N. Lange, Iara M. C. Camargo, Ana Maria G. M. Figueiredo, Liliana Castro, Marina B. A. Vasconcellos & Regina B. Ticianelli

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  1. Camila N. Lange
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  2. Iara M. C. Camargo
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  3. Ana Maria G. M. Figueiredo
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  4. Liliana Castro
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  5. Marina B. A. Vasconcellos
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  6. Regina B. Ticianelli
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Correspondence to Camila N. Lange.

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Lange, C.N., Camargo, I.M.C., Figueiredo, A.M.G.M. et al. A Brazilian coal fly ash as a potential source of rare earth elements. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 311, 1235–1241 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-5026-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-5026-8

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