Distributions and Extraction of Rare Earth Elements from Coal and Coal By-Products
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: NETL is leading a research effort to investigate, characterize, and extract rare earth elements (REE) from coal and coal by-products, including coal ash. Characterization of geologic core samples, coal mine wastes, and coal ash has led to interesting findings on the mode of occurrence and fate of rare earth minerals, such as monazite, in coal-based materials. Mineral associations and elemental distributions have been investigated and results indicate that Th is associated with light rare earth elements (LREE), possibly as monazite, and Zr is associated with heavy rare earth elements (HREE), possibly as zircon. Preliminary extractions of REE from coal ash using 2M hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) hydrothermal pretreatment have been investigated. Sodium hydroxide solution pretreatment followed by an acid digestion was shown to increase extraction of REE to nearly 90% for coal ash.
Authors: Roth, Elliot, Bank, Tracy, Lin, Ronghong, Macala, Megan
Institution: National Energy Technology Laboratory
Language: English
Topic: Coal and Its By-products
Subfield: Geochemistry and Petrology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4299570697