Pré-séparation des éléments de terres rares par carbonatation et lixiviation sélective

稀土元素（REE）相互分离是加工这些用于交通电气化和风力涡轮机的战略金属的一个昂贵但必要的步骤。该项目将研究一种新的预分离工艺，通过对第一组稀土氧化物的选择性碳化，然后对这些碳酸盐进行稀盐酸浸出，将稀土分成两组。这一分离前步骤有可能减少后续由常规溶剂萃取（SX）进行的REE分离步骤的数量、成本和环境影响。该项目将在实验室规模上研究选择性碳酸化和浸出（SCL）过程，以建立最佳的预分离条件，并在实际的稀土矿石上验证该过程。然后，研究人员在上一个项目中开发的SX模拟软件将用于量化整合SCL过程对稀土分离的资本和运营成本的影响，以及其废水产量和能源需求，这两者都有望减少。SCL工艺的基本方面也将被调查，连同其适用于其他关键和战略金属分离。通过将稀土分离的运营和资本成本降低25-50%，该项目将成为一个重要的里程碑，使加拿大在希望提取和加工稀土的国家中脱颖而出。合作伙伴Commerce Resources Corp.和SGS Canada将从这一知识产权的发展和湿法冶金和稀土领域高素质人才的培训中受益。

The separation of rare earths elements (REE) from one another is a costly but essential step in the processing of these strategic metals used in the electrification of transportation and in wind turbines. This project will study a novel pre-separation process able to split the REE in two groups through a selective carbonation of the rare earth oxides of the first group, followed by a dilute HCl leach of these carbonates. This pre-separation step has the potential to reduce the number, cost and environmental impact of the subsequent REE separation steps, to be conducted by conventional solvent extraction (SX).The project will study the selective carbonation and leach (SCL) process at laboratory scale to establish optimal pre-separation conditions and prove-up the process on actual REE ore. A SX simulation software, developed by the researchers during a previous project, will then be used to quantify the impact of integrating the SCL process on the capital and operating costs of REE separation, as well as its effluent production and energy demand, both of which are expected to decrease. Fundamental aspects of the SCL process will also be investigated, along with its applicability to other critical and strategic metals separations.By reducing the operating and capital costs of REE separation by 25-50%, the project will represent a significant milestone enabling Canada to stand out among the countries wishing to extract and process REE. The partners, Commerce Resources Corp. and SGS Canada will stand to benefit from this development of intellectual property and training of highly qualified personnel in the fields of hydrometallurgy and REE.