CMI scientists at Colorado School of Mines and Oak Ridge National Laboratory contributed to this research.
Achievement
Rare earth oxide (REO) recoveries of up to 78% with REO grades up to 69% have been achieved in locked-cycle testing of novel flotation collectors
Significance and impact
- The results imply that up to 30% more rare earths can be obtained from a ton of bastnaesite ore, allowing for more favorable economics, less waste
- Higher grade improves downstream processing, reducing chemical consumption, decreasing costs
Next steps
- Understand what makes the tested collectors successful from a fundamental chemical point of view
- Apply the flotation research to other sources of rare earth element ore to determine if the tested collectors are applicable to a wide range of mineralogical compositions
