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Meng X, Zhao H, Zhao Y, Shen L, Gu G, Qiu G. Effective recovery of rare earth from (bio)leaching solution through precipitation of rare earth-citrate complex. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 233:119752. [PMID: 36812814 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioleaching is considered an alternative to traditional rare earth extraction technology. However, since rare earth elements exist as complexes in bioleaching lixivium, they cannot be directly precipitated by normal precipitants, which restricts their further development. This structurally stable complex is also a common challenge in various types of industrial wastewater treatment. In this work, a new method called a three-step precipitation process is first proposed to efficiently recover rare earth-citrate (RE-Cit) complexes from (bio)leaching lixivium. It consists of coordinate bond activation (carboxylation by pH adjustment), structure transformation (Ca2+ addition) and carbonate precipitation (soluble CO32- addition). The optimization conditions are determined to adjust the lixivium pH to around 2.0, then add calcium carbonate until the n(Ca2+): n(Cit3-) is more than 1.4:1 and lastly add sodium carbonate until n(CO32-): n(RE3+) is more than 4:1. The results of precipitation experiments using imitated lixivium show that the rare earth yield is more than 96% and the impurity aluminum yield is less than 20%. Subsequently, pilot tests (1000 L) using real lixivium were successfully conducted. The precipitation mechanism is briefly discussed and proposed by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV spectroscopy. This technology is promising in the industrial application of rare earth (bio)hydrometallurgy and wastewater treatment due to its advantages of high efficiency, low cost, environmental friendliness and simple operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Meng
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongbo Zhao
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Yu Zhao
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Li Shen
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guohua Gu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Guanzhou Qiu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Li L, Liu C, Zhang H, Huang B, Luo B, Bie C, Sun X. The enrichment of rare earth from magnesium salt leaching solution of ion-adsorbed type deposit: A waste-free process for removing impurities. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 310:114743. [PMID: 35217448 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Due to the complex composition of ion-adsorbed type rare earth ore leaching solution, there are challenges in the process of rare earth (RE) separation, such as large RE loss rate, low product purity, radioactive residue and so on. In this article, 8-hydroxyquinoline modified silica gel (HQ-SiO2) and 2,2'-(1,4-phenylenebis(oxy)) dioctanoic acid (PPBOA) were used to form an efficient process for impurities removal and RE enrichment. Solid phase extraction successfully intercepted 96.7% of the radioactive element thorium. The concentration of aluminium was reduced to 2.14 ppm by frank chromatography. Rare earth elements were enriched from 336.35 mg/L to 237.75 g/L by extraction-precipitation, that is, the enrichment multiple reached more than 700 and the proportion of RE was increased from 21.85% to 96.62%. The loss rate of RE was controlled below 1.59%. Moreover, the magnesium salt leaching solution could be recycled for the leaching of RE ores. Although some liquid waste need to be treated in the processes of HQ-SiO2 production and regeneration, the integrated process helps to decrease volatile organic solvent, acid-base consumption, wastewater and waste residue. It is an environment-friendly RE enrichment and impurity removal process, which shows application potential in the production field of ion-adsorbed type rare earth mineral products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Li
- Faculty of Materials Metallurgy and Chemistry, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, PR China
| | - Chenhao Liu
- Faculty of Materials Metallurgy and Chemistry, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, PR China; CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Photoelectric Functional Materials, Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China
| | - Hepeng Zhang
- Faculty of Materials Metallurgy and Chemistry, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, PR China; CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Photoelectric Functional Materials, Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China
| | - Bin Huang
- Faculty of Materials Metallurgy and Chemistry, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, PR China; CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Photoelectric Functional Materials, Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production of Rare Earths, Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, PR China; Ganzhou Rare Earth Group Co., Ltd., China Southern Rare Earth, Ganzhou, 341000, PR China
| | - Bing Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Photoelectric Functional Materials, Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China
| | - Chao Bie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Photoelectric Functional Materials, Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China
| | - Xiaoqi Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Photoelectric Functional Materials, Fujian Research Center for Rare Earth Engineering Technology, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production of Rare Earths, Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, PR China.
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