Mine to Magnets – Securing a Supply of Rare Earth Elements from Volcanic Tuffs for UK Magnet Manufacture

英国需要确保各种关键材料的稳定和安全供应，其中稀土元素（REE）因其在永磁体，高强度合金和其他高科技应用中的各种用途而被列为最关键的材料。稀土元素是特别重要的，因为它们来源于除英国以外的相对较少的国家，因此在地缘政治紧张时期，它们的供应得不到保证。本项目的重点是一种新的稀土元素来源，尽管它丰富且富含稀土元素，但迄今尚未用于稀土元素富集-火山凝灰岩。火山凝灰岩是在火山爆发过程中形成的火成岩，通常在火山活动区发现。牛津大学地球科学系在地热田中发现了一种富含稀土元素的火山凝灰岩。该项目资助了一项可行性研究，以调查是否有可能从这种火山凝灰岩中提取稀土元素，而不需要挖掘岩石和破坏当地的动物群和植物群。这个想法是使用地热发电厂运营商部署的现有设备和技术从地下地热威尔斯井中沥滤稀土元素。然后需要从地热盐水中提取浸出的REE，并使用可扩展且具有成本效益的方法进行精炼。本文提出了一种新的方法来实现这一目标，即使用Seloxium Ltd.开发的多项专利平台技术SelectalTM，该技术可以从水溶液中选择性地絮凝目标金属。传统的稀土开采和精炼方法存在能耗高、选择性低、运行成本高和形成二次污染物的缺点。因此，在本申请中提出了一种替代方法，通过一种新的耦合浸出-精炼系统与Seloxium的技术。SelectalTM工艺可以生产高纯度的金属，其成本、纯度、规模和速度都是竞争技术无法达到的。这是一个由水产开采公司Seloxium Ltd.和牛津大学合作的项目，专注于两步方法，从一个全新的来源获得磁铁所需的关键稀土元素，并以绿色和可持续的方式进行提炼，从而推动英国稀土元素供应链的发展。

The UK needs to ensure a robust and secure supply of various critical materials, among which Rare Earth Elements (REE) are classed as the most critical due to their various uses in permanent magnets, high strength alloys and other high-tech applications. REE are particularly critical as they are sourced from a relatively small number of countries other than the UK and hence their supply is not guaranteed in times of geopolitical tension.This project focuses on a novel source of REE which is so far not used for REE enrichment although it is plentiful and rich in REE -- volcanic tuffs. Volcanic tuffs are igneous rocks formed during volcanic eruptions and found commonly in areas of volcanic activity. A particular type of volcanic tuff rich in REE has been identified in geothermal fields by the Earth Science Department of the University of Oxford. A feasibility study is funded by this project to investigate whether it is possible to extract REE from such volcanic tuffs without the need to excavate the rock and destroy local fauna and flora. The idea is to leach the REE from underground geothermal wells using the existing equipment and techniques deployed by geothermal powerplant operators. The leached REE then need to be extracted from the geothermal brine and refined using a scalable and cost-effective method. A novel method is proposed here to achieve this using SelectalTM, a multi-patented platform technology developed by Seloxium Ltd. that can selectively flocculate target metals from aqueous solutions.Conventional methods of mining and refining REE have the disadvantages of high energy consumption, low selectivity, high operating cost, and formation of secondary pollutants. Hence, an alternative process is proposed in this application via a novel coupled leaching--refining system with Seloxium's technology. The SelectalTM process can produce a high purity metal at a cost, purity, scale, and speed not attainable using competing technologies.This is a collaborative project between aqua-mining company Seloxium Ltd. and The University of Oxford - focusing on a 2-step methodology to obtain critical REE for magnets from a completely novel source and refine them in a green and sustainable way, boosting the REE supply chain for the UK.