Leaching of rare earth elements with sulfuric acid from bastnasite ores

  • Srećko R. Stopić RWTH Aachen University, Faculty for Georesourcen and Materials Engineering, IME Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling, Aachen
  • Bernd G. Friedrich RWTH Aachen University, Faculty for Georesourcen and Materials Engineering, IME Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling, Aachen
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/vojtehg66-17177
Keywords: rare earth elements, hydrometallurgy, bastnasite, sulfuric acid,

Abstract


Dissolution of rare earth elements from bastnasite ores was studied using sulfuric acid at the atmospheric pressure. The one step strategy with sulfuric acid was studied further and the results showed that filtering difficulties do not happen for the chosen parameter combinations. Furthermore, the best parameter combinations were those with low temperatures and low acid concentrations. All in all, direct leaching is a simple process that uses the cheapest acid on the market and offers good leaching recoveries. Attention should be given to the formation of gel, especially when taking the process to the large scale, and the subsequent elimination of Ca from the leachate.

Author Biography

Srećko R. Stopić, RWTH Aachen University, Faculty for Georesourcen and Materials Engineering, IME Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling, Aachen

Dr.-Ing. tehnickih nauka

Metalurgija, naucni saradnik

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Published
2018/09/03
Issue
Vol. 66 No. 4 (2018): October – December
Section
Original Scientific Papers

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