Extract high purity rare earth concentrate from coal

Scientists at the University of Kentucky successfully extracted nearly pure rare earth concentrates from coal using environmentally friendly and cost-effective methods.

After receiving over US$7 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, Rick Honaker, Principal Investigator and Professor of Mining Engineering, was able to delve into the creation of this new material. "The main goal of the U.S. Department of Energy's project is to produce concentrates containing at least 2% rare earth elements," Honaker said. "We have already exceeded this goal."

He said that the extraction process successfully harvested more than 80% of the rare earth elements present in the feedstock. From a dry monolith, the concentrate contains more than 80% of rare earth elements and more than 98% of rare earth oxides. In addition, antimony and antimony, which are commonly used in the fields of defense, high-tech and renewable energy, account for more than 45% of the total concentrate.

At the same time, through this new harvesting process, thorium is effectively separated from other elements. This rare earth element is commonly used in aviation and lighting and can be concentrated into individual products.

The Honaker team is conducting a quarter-ton mobile earth recovery pilot plant project every hour. The above breakthrough process is only part of the project.