Rare earth elements (REE) are a group of metals that are key drivers of the new age economy as these REEs are essential components of wind turbines, magnets, video display etc. However, even though the need for this resource is global, more than 85% of the world’s supply is from the Asia Pacific region. Mitigating the risk associated with this concentrated geographical supply has facilitated research in the U.S. focusing on coal and associated materials from coal exploration as potential REE sources. A less evaluated coal exploration-related source are discharges from closed and abandoned mines – acid mine drainage or AMD. A number of studies have evaluated AMD sites in West Virginia (137 sites evaluated) and Pennsylvania (140 sites evaluated), with little known about Ohio which is also located in the Northern Appalachian region. Furthermore, typical REE extraction from most coal exploration sources are based on widespread mining techniques such as pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy and there is an opportunity to electrify REE recovery using electrochemical techniques.<br/><br/>This study is being conducted to both examine AMD sites – treated solids and untreated liquids – associated with different watersheds in the state of Ohio and explore REE recovery using electrochemical stimuli. AMD characterization for REE content, with respect to specific watersheds in Ohio could provide correlations between major minerals in the region (e.g. Si, Ba, Fe etc.) and REEs. Electrifying the REE recovery process enhance the environmental impact of resource recovery in comparison to current techniques such as pyrometallurgy that rely on fossil energy. A combination of solid-state and liquid-phase characterization techniques will be used to evaluate the REE content of these AMD effluents as well as the electrolyte used in the electrified recovery process. These results will be presented at the meeting.

Characterization and recovery of rare earth minerals from acid mine drainage effluents in Ohio

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.