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

1632146 .稀土元素是由十五种镧系元素加上钪和钇组成的。这些元素被认为是能源关键元素，它们的短缺可能会严重阻碍能源相关技术的大规模部署，这些技术有可能改变能源的生产、传输、储存和保护，如光伏太阳能电池、风力涡轮机和混合动力汽车。地热水是稀土元素潜在的重要来源；然而，地热流体的发电利用很少关注稀土元素的回收。在本研究项目中，将首次研究一种新的电化学膜工艺——电渗析复分解，以最小的化学品消耗从地热水中分离和回收高纯稀土元素。这个为期18个月的项目的目标是推进利用电渗析复分解工艺从地热水中回收稀土元素的基础知识。研究目的是确定：1)电渗析过程中稀土元素的还原反应和选择性；2)电渗析过程中稀土元素的质量传递机制和动力学。离子通过交变离子交换膜与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），但尚未应用于稀土元素的浓缩和回收。本研究项目的智力价值在于首次研究了应用电渗析复分解从地热流体，特别是地热井和发电厂盐水中浓缩和提取稀土元素的可能性。这将有助于节省被认为是能源关键元素的稀土元素资源，也将保护环境。如果成功，该工艺的开发将为美国提供另一种稀土元素来源。长期教育目标是培养未来几代西班牙裔STEM研究人员掌握稀土元素和矿物回收和再利用的尖端技术。教育目标是：1)为STEM学生提供先进的膜工艺技能，2)促进K-12西班牙裔学生对能源战略材料的STEM知识和工程文学的丰富。该项目将为本科生和研究生的环境工程实验课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西班牙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.