In order to intensify the leaching process of rare earth(RE) and reduce the impurities in the leachate, ammonium chloride(NH4Cl) and ammonium nitrate(NH4NO3) were mixed as a compound leaching agent to treat the ...In order to intensify the leaching process of rare earth(RE) and reduce the impurities in the leachate, ammonium chloride(NH4Cl) and ammonium nitrate(NH4NO3) were mixed as a compound leaching agent to treat the weathered crust elution-deposited RE ore. Effects of molar ratio of NH~+_4Cl and NH_4NO_3, ammonium(NH_4) concentration, leaching agent pH and flow rate on the leaching process of RE were studied and evaluated by the chromatographic plate theory. Leaching process of the main impurity aluminium(Al) was also discussed in detail. Results showed that a higher initial ammonium concentration in a certain range could enhance the mass transfer process of RE and Al by providing a driving force to overcome the resistance of diffusion. pH almost had no effects on the mass transfer efficiency of RE and Al in the range of 4 to 8. The relationship between the flow rate and height equivalent to a theoretical plate(HETP) could fit well with the Van Deemter equation, and the flow rate at the lowest HETP was determined. The optimum conditions of column leaching for RE and Al were 1:1(molar ratio) of NH_4Cl and NH_4NO_3, 0.2 mol/L of ammonium concentration, pH 4–8 of leaching agent and 0.5 mL /min of flow rate. Under this condition, the mass transfer efficiency of RE was improved, but no change was observed for Al compared with the most widely used ammonium sulfate. Moreover, the significant difference value(around 20 mL) of retention volume at the peak concentration between RE and Al provided a possibility for their separation. It suggested the potential application of the novel compound leaching agent(NH_4Cl/NH_4NO_3). It was found that the relative concentration of RE in the leachate could be easily obtained by monitoring the pH of leachate.展开更多
Weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore is an important resource of rare earths, including grantic weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore and volcanic weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth or...Weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore is an important resource of rare earths, including grantic weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore and volcanic weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore. The development condition of the weathered crust, weathering degree and mineral composition of these ores will be different because of the differences between their parent rocks and weathered crust causes of mineralogy path. Therefore, mineral properties and leaching characteristics of volcanic weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore from Chongzuo(CZ), Guangxi province were investigated. It was found that the CZ rare earth ore was a typical mid-yttrium and rich-europium ore, with the overall rare earth(REE) grade in ion-exchangeable phase of 0.15%. Partide size classification showed that finer particle had a higher REE grade. Column leaching tests showed that the leaching efficiency of REE was above 94% with leaching agent concentration of 0.20 mol/L, liquid-solid ratio of 4:3, flow rate of 0.60 mL/min, and initial pH value around 5.67. Compared to ammonium sulfate leaching, magnesium sulfate leaching was advantaged by nearly zero ammonia nitrogen emission while their REE leaching was almost equivalent.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51274152 and 41472071)the Program for Excellent Young Scientific and Technological Innovation Team of Hubei Provincial Department of Education,China(T201506)
文摘In order to intensify the leaching process of rare earth(RE) and reduce the impurities in the leachate, ammonium chloride(NH4Cl) and ammonium nitrate(NH4NO3) were mixed as a compound leaching agent to treat the weathered crust elution-deposited RE ore. Effects of molar ratio of NH~+_4Cl and NH_4NO_3, ammonium(NH_4) concentration, leaching agent pH and flow rate on the leaching process of RE were studied and evaluated by the chromatographic plate theory. Leaching process of the main impurity aluminium(Al) was also discussed in detail. Results showed that a higher initial ammonium concentration in a certain range could enhance the mass transfer process of RE and Al by providing a driving force to overcome the resistance of diffusion. pH almost had no effects on the mass transfer efficiency of RE and Al in the range of 4 to 8. The relationship between the flow rate and height equivalent to a theoretical plate(HETP) could fit well with the Van Deemter equation, and the flow rate at the lowest HETP was determined. The optimum conditions of column leaching for RE and Al were 1:1(molar ratio) of NH_4Cl and NH_4NO_3, 0.2 mol/L of ammonium concentration, pH 4–8 of leaching agent and 0.5 mL /min of flow rate. Under this condition, the mass transfer efficiency of RE was improved, but no change was observed for Al compared with the most widely used ammonium sulfate. Moreover, the significant difference value(around 20 mL) of retention volume at the peak concentration between RE and Al provided a possibility for their separation. It suggested the potential application of the novel compound leaching agent(NH_4Cl/NH_4NO_3). It was found that the relative concentration of RE in the leachate could be easily obtained by monitoring the pH of leachate.
基金supported by National Science and Technology Support Program of China(2015BAB16B01)Science and Technology Support Program of Guangxi(1598007-41)
文摘Weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore is an important resource of rare earths, including grantic weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore and volcanic weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore. The development condition of the weathered crust, weathering degree and mineral composition of these ores will be different because of the differences between their parent rocks and weathered crust causes of mineralogy path. Therefore, mineral properties and leaching characteristics of volcanic weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore from Chongzuo(CZ), Guangxi province were investigated. It was found that the CZ rare earth ore was a typical mid-yttrium and rich-europium ore, with the overall rare earth(REE) grade in ion-exchangeable phase of 0.15%. Partide size classification showed that finer particle had a higher REE grade. Column leaching tests showed that the leaching efficiency of REE was above 94% with leaching agent concentration of 0.20 mol/L, liquid-solid ratio of 4:3, flow rate of 0.60 mL/min, and initial pH value around 5.67. Compared to ammonium sulfate leaching, magnesium sulfate leaching was advantaged by nearly zero ammonia nitrogen emission while their REE leaching was almost equivalent.