Extraction and Processing of Rare Earth

Elements
1.

2.

Introduction to rare earth elements

1.1.

History, Discovery of rare earths

1.2.

General Properties

1.3.

Occurance/Minerals

1.4.

Sources

1.5.

Producing Countries

1.6.

China Factor

1.7.

Applications

Extraction and purification process

3.1

Extractive Metallurgy

3.2

Mining & Milling

3.2.1

Physical Beneficiation
3.2.1.1

3.2.2

Gravity concentration

Chemical Beneficiation
3.2.2.1

Rare Earth from minerals

3.2.3 Separation

Processes

3.2.3.1

Selective Oxidation

3.2.3.2

Selective Reduction

3.2.3.3

Fraction crystallization

3.2.3.4

Fractional Precipitation

4.

3.2.3.5

Ion exchange

3.2.3.6

Solvent extraction

3.2.4

Reduction Processes

3.2.5

Electrolytic Reduction

3.2.6

Purification

3.2.6.1

Electrowinning

3.2.6.2

Electrorefining

3.2.6.3

Electrolysis using Molten Salt

Recycling of rare earths

4.1

Overview of world production of rare earths

4.2

Cost analysis

4.3
4.4

Supply and Demand

Current technologies for recycling

Suggested Text Books:

1.

Extractive Metallurgy of Rare Earths by C. K. Gupta and N.

Krishnamurthy, CRC Press.

2.

Extractive Metallurgy of Rare Earths by C. K. Gupta and N.

Krishnamurthy International Materials Reviews 1992 Vol. 37
197-248.

3.

Recycling critical raw materials from waste electronic

equipment by Matthias Buchert, Andreas Manhart, Daniel
Bleher, Detlef Pingel

4.

Rare Earth ElementsEnd Use and Recyclability By Thomas

G. Goonan, USGS Report 2011

5.

Rare Earth ElementsCritical Resources for High Technology,

USGS Fact Sheet 087-02