CMI Project 1.1.12: Critical material recovery from ores and lean sources Research Highlights

Adsorption reaction mechanism for rare earth flotation discovered

CMI researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Vibrational Spectra of Adsorbed Collector

Simulations reveal precisely how water and ligands bind to the surface of a rare earth mineral

CMI researchers at ORNL and UC-Davis collaborated on simulations that reveal precisely how water and ligands bind to the surface of a rare earth mineral

Resemblance between the naturally occurring and the computed crystal structure morphology (left). The 2D free energy surface as a function of the distance (z) from the central layer and the number of water-water hydrogen bonds (n), highlighting the multilayered water structure and the associated exchange timescales at the water-xenotime interface(right).

Computer-aided design of bis-phosphinate ligands for selective adsorption on bastnaesite

CMI research at ORNL and UC-Davis led to computer-aided design of bis-phosphinate ligands for selective adsorption on bastnaesite

Illustration of conceptual design of surface-active molecules (collectors) that are positioned to provide an optimal binding with the (100) surface of bastnaesite, the natural crystal morphology, which is shown as a chiseled at edges hexagonal prism.

Improved flotation of bastnaesite from ore promises greater rare earth output from mines

CMI researchers at Colorado School of Mines and Oak Ridge National Laboratory tested locked-cycle novel flotation collectors and recovered up to 78 percent of earth oxide with REO grades up to 69 percent

Flotation experiment, showing bastnaesite-rich froth

Unprecedented intra-lanthanide separation achieved

CMI research has achieved unprecedented intra-lanthanide separation

Efficient leaching eliminates costly cracking step in rare earth mining

CMI research shows efficient leaching eliminates costly cracking step in rare earth mining