Rare earth elements are vital to many modern technologies with applications including renewable energy (wind turbines), consumer products (smartphones), and national security (missile defense). No rare earth ore mines are in currently in operation in the US and the need to develop a domestic supply has become apparent. The recovery of these materials is challenging and costly, with current rare earth separation from ore requiring energy intensive, consecutive dissolution and precipitation steps using strong acids and organic solvents. Coal and coal by-products are inexpensive alternatives, known to contain elevated levels of rare earth elements (50-350 ppm). Wyonics has designed and demonstrated nonvolatile ionic liquid processes for the dissolution of coal products and recovery of rare earth elements. The development of Wyonics' ionic liquid-based processes for the separation and extraction of these valuable materials directly from coal will be discussed, as well as the future of alternative coal-based products.

Ionic liquid processes for the extraction of rare earth elements from coal

2019 Spring National Meeting

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