EAGER-SUSCHEM: Rare Earth Elements Recovery from Geothermal Waters Using Novel Electrodialysis Metathesis Process

1632146 CamachoRare稀土元素是由15种稀土元素加上Sc和Y组成的。这些元素被认为是能源关键元素，它们的短缺可能会显著阻碍与能源相关的技术的大规模部署，这些技术有可能改变能源的生产、传输、存储和节约，如光伏太阳能电池、风力涡轮机和混合动力汽车。地热水是稀土元素的潜在重要来源；然而，利用地热流体发电很少侧重于稀土元素的回收。在本研究项目中，将首次研究一种新的电化学膜过程--电渗析分解法，以最小的化学品消耗分离和回收地热水中的高纯度稀土元素。这项为期18个月的项目的目标是提高利用电渗析分解法从地热水中回收稀土元素的基础知识。研究目的是确定：1)电渗析分解过程中稀土元素的分解反应和选择性；2)稀土元素在电渗析分解过程中的传质机理和动力学。离子通过交替离子交换膜和外加电流的复分解反应已被应用于分离微咸水中常见的离子(即钙、钠、镁、钾、硫酸盐和氯化物)，但尚未用于浓缩和回收稀土元素。这一研究项目的智力价值是首次研究了应用电渗析分解法从地热流体中浓缩和提取稀土元素的可能性，特别是从地热井和发电厂卤水中。这将有助于节约被认为是能源关键元素的稀土元素资源，并保护环境。如果成功，这一工艺的开发将为美国的稀土元素提供另一种来源。长期教育目标是培训未来几代拉美裔STEM研究人员，了解稀土元素和矿物回收和再利用的尖端技术。教育目标是：1)向STEM学生提供膜工艺方面的高级技能，2)向K-12拉美裔学生推广STEM知识和工程文献，丰富能源战略材料。PI将为本科生和研究生环境工程实验室课程创建一个关于矿物和能源关键元素的膜分离实验室研究模块。他们还将为K-12拉美裔学生创建一个关于能源关键要素的互动工具。

1632146CamachoRare earth elements are composed of the fifteen lanthanide elements plus scandium and yttrium. These elements are considered energy-critical elements, whose shortage could significantly inhibit large-scale deployment of energy-related technologies that have the potential of transforming the production, transmission, storage, and conservation of energy, such as photovoltaic solar cells, wind turbines, and hybrid automobiles. Geothermal waters are potentially significant sources of rare earth elements; however, utilization of geothermal fluids for electricity generation seldom focuses on the recovery of rare earth elements. In this research project, a novel electrochemical membrane process, electrodialysis metathesis, will be investigated for the first time to separate and recover high purity rare earth elements from geothermal waters with minimal consumption of chemicals.The goal of this 18-month project is to advance the fundamental knowledge of recovery of rare earth elements from geothermal waters using electrodialysis metathesis process. The research objectives are to determine: 1) the metathesis reactions and selectivity of rare earth elements in the electrodialysis metathesis process, and, 2) the mass transport mechanisms and kinetic of rare earth elements in the electrodialysis metathesis process. Metathesis, or double decomposition, reaction of ions passing through alternating ion-exchange membranes and applied current has been applied to separate ions commonly found in brackish water (i.e. calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, sulfate and chloride), but has not yet been applied to concentrate and recover rare earth elements. The intellectual merit of this research project is to study, for the first time, the possibility of applying electrodialysis metathesis to concentrate and extract rare earth elements from geothermal fluids, particularly from geothermal wells and power plant brines. This will contribute to save rare earth elements resources which are considered energy-critical elements and will also protect the environment. If successful, the development of this process will provide an alternative source of rare earth elements in the US. The long-term education goal is to train future generations of Hispanic STEM researchers on cutting-edge technologies for rare earth elements and minerals recovery and reuse. The educational objectives are to: 1) provide STEM students advanced skills on membrane process, and, 2) promote STEM knowledge and engineering literary enrichment about energy-strategic materials on K-12 Hispanic students. The PI will create a membrane separation laboratory research module on minerals and energy-critical elements for the undergraduate and graduate Environmental Engineering laboratory classes. They will also create an interactive tool on energy-critical elements for K-12 Hispanic students.