Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Sebastiaan Peelman
Delft University of Technology
Department of Material Science and Engineering
Metals Production, Refining and recycling
s.peelman@tudelft.nl
Contents
Introduction
Characterization of the mine tailings
Leaching
Residue analysis
Proposed process route
Conclusions
Introduction
Critical raw materials defined by the EU
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/raw-materials/specific-interest/critical/index_en.htm
50-100M tons of
tailings currently in
the dam
largest REE
deposit in Europe
February 14-18, Downtown Nashville,
Tennessee, Music City Center
Apatite flotation
The tailings were first treated by Plsson et al. at
LTU Sweden
The REE and P content of the tailings were
upgraded using flotation
Particle sizes after upgrading range from 10100m
Trace minerals:
Silica
Magnetite
REE phosphate
Likely monazite
Leaching
H3PO4 is the main P product produced from
apatite
Traditionally H2SO4 leaching is used:
( ) + + +
10
11
12
HNO3 leaching
HNO3 leaching was compared to HCl leaching
Results HNO3 are very similar to HCl
increased acid concentration has little effect
13
14
Quartz
Hematite
Magnesio silicates
monazite
15
Ca(NO3)2 precipitation
Ca recovery possible
by cooling solution
Low L/S (2-3) leads to
more effective
recovery
50-75% of Ca was
removed
No REE losses
observed in the
precipitates
16
17
Conclusions
Total REE recovery not achievable under present
conditions
Two REE minerals are present in the upgraded
tailings: apatite and monazite
18
Conclusions
Phosphorous is recovered as H3PO4 together with
the heavy REE
Calcium can be partially removed and valorized
as Ca(NO3)2 ,when HNO3 is used as leachant, by
chilling the solution
The leach residue can be treated as a low grade
monazite concentrate and be processed by
alkaline treatment or roasting treatment as a
source of light REE
19
20