Rare Earth Element Concentration and Recovery Trends in Coal, Mine Drainage, and Sludge

Youngwook Cheong; Giljae Yim; Won Hur; Yongkun Choi

doi:10.32390/ksmer.2022.59.5.441

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2022 Vol.59, Issue 5S Preview Page Next Page

Review (Special Issue)

Rare Earth Element Concentration and Recovery Trends in Coal, Mine Drainage, and Sludge 국내 일부 석탄, 광산배수 및 슬러지의 희토류 농도 및 회수 기술 동향

31 October 2022. pp. 441-449

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Abstract

To evaluate the resource potential of rare earth elements (REEs) in mine drainage and sludge, the research trends on REE recovery from mine waste were investigated. The total average REE in coal and shale was analyzed to be 268 mg/kg and 283 mg/kg, respectively. The TREE (Total REE) concentration of the mine drainage was high in acidic drainage. The REE/NASE ratio displayed enriched middle REE patterns. As the mine drainage of the Daedeok Coal Mine was neutralized to pH 8.5, the REE component was reduced to <0.1 ppb and concentrated into sludge. The average TREE concentrations of sludge from coal and metal mines were quantified as 290 mg/kg and 532.6 mg/kg, respectively. The basket price of REE in 17 sludge sites was estimated to reach USD 790,493. Research on REE recovery is conducted widely to recover REE from raw water and sludge by adsorption and precipitation. A REE recovery system that considers the scattered location of closed mines is presented. It is a concept that primarily concentrates REE in individual mine drainage treatment facilities and subsequently produces high concentrations of REE in a facility with acid dissolution and solvent extraction processes.To evaluate the resource potential of rare earth elements (REEs) in mine drainage and sludge, the research trends on REE recovery from mine waste were investigated. The total average REE in coal and shale was analyzed to be 268 mg/kg and 283 mg/kg, respectively. The TREE (Total REE) concentration of the mine drainage was high in acidic drainage. The REE/NASE ratio displayed enriched middle REE patterns. As the mine drainage of the Daedeok Coal Mine was neutralized to pH 8.5, the REE component was reduced to <0.1 ppb and concentrated into sludge. The average TREE concentrations of sludge from coal and metal mines were quantified as 290 mg/kg and 532.6 mg/kg, respectively. The basket price of REE in 17 sludge sites was estimated to reach USD 790,493. Research on REE recovery is conducted widely to recover REE from raw water and sludge by adsorption and precipitation. A REE recovery system that considers the scattered location of closed mines is presented. It is a concept that primarily concentrates REE in individual mine drainage treatment facilities and subsequently produces high concentrations of REE in a facility with acid dissolution and solvent extraction processes.

Keywords

Rare earth element

mine drainage

sludge

recovery

basket price

광산배수 및 슬러지 내 희토류(REE)의 자원화 가능성 평가를 위하여 REE 분석과 연구 동향을 조사하였다. 석탄 및 셰일에서 총 희토류(TREE) 평균은 각각 268 mg/kg 및 283 mg/kg로 분석되었다. 광산배수의 TREE 농도는 pH 값이 낮은 산성배수에서 높았다. REE/NASE 비는 중간 희토류(MREE)가 부화한 특징을 보였다. 대덕탄광의 광산배수가 pH 8.5로 중화되면서 REE 성분이 <0.1 ppb 이하로 감소하여 슬러지로 농축되었다. 금속광산과 석탄광 슬러지의 평균 THREE 는 290 mg/kg 및 532.6 mg/kg으로 조사되었다. 총 17개소의 슬러지 내 REE의 시장가치는 790,493 U$에 달할 것으로 추정하였다. 문헌 조사 결과 REE 회수 연구는 원수 및 슬러지별 흡착 및 침전법으로 회수하는 연구가 수행중이다. 폐광산이 흩어져 있는 현장을 고려한 REE 회수 시스템으로 개별 AMD 처리시설에서 REE를 1차로 농축하고 산 용출 및 용매추출 공정을 갖춘 시설에서 2차로 고순도 REE를 생산하는 개념이 제시되고 있다.

키워드

희토류

광산배수

슬러지

회수

시장가치

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
Publisher(Ko) :한국자원공학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
Journal Title(Ko) :한국자원공학회지
Volume : 59
No :5
Pages :441-449
Received Date : 2022-09-21
Revised Date : 2022-10-19
Accepted Date : 2022-10-26
DOI :https://doi.org/10.32390/ksmer.2022.59.5.441

Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers ISSN:2288-0291(Print) 2288-2790(Online) 한국자원공학회지

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