Abstract
The production of rare earth elements from ore usually consists of three steps; the separation of a concentrate of REE bearing minerals ; the cracking of the REE minerals to liberate the REE into an aqueous solution and separation of REE into individual elements. This paper describes the results of laboratory tests conducted on a carbonate-rich REE ore containing bastnaesite and monazite . The tests cover the whole processing sequence of beneficiation, preparation of the REE solution using a caustic leach followed by acid leach to break monazite and bastnaesite and liberate REE into an aqueous solution and the partial separation of the REE using solvent extraction . Details on the product quality and process performances (recovery and impurities removal ) are given for each studied step. The paper also discusses the economic advantage of separating the REE rather than producing a mixed REO product to be sold to a refinery for REE separation . A mini-pilot plant version of the process is currently planned.
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Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the financial support of a Niobec/Magris through a NSERC/CRD grant managed by professor Jamal Chaouki from École polytechnique of Montréal, QC. The authors also acknowledge the financial support of the Quebec FRQNT program. The authors are grateful to Niobec for its permission to present the paper.
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Boulanger, JF., Turgeon, K., Bazin, C., Verret, FO., Downey, D. (2018). Production of Partially Separated Rare Earth Elements (REE) from a Quebec Deposit. In: Davis, B., et al. Extraction 2018. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95022-8_235
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95022-8_235
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