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Https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/namibia-bans-export-unprocessed-critical-minerals-2023-06-08/?rpc=401&

The Phalaborwa project is interesting from the point of view of processing existing and emerging waste from the production of phosphoric acid.

Since we are talking about WASTE, their processing should be comprehensive and environmentally friendly.

In this regard, a number of questions arise even for a pilot plant:

- incomplete extraction of REE 65-70%. Residual content of REE 1500ppm;

- the use of sulfuric acid with a concentration of 110-150 g / dm3 (10-15% solution of H2SO4) - causes the greatest corrosion of the apparatus. Also, phosphogypsum is an abrasive material. All this imposes special requirements on the choice of materials for apparatuses, pumps, and pipelines.

- high duration of the REE leaching process - 4-6 hours;

- there are no data on the waste generated after the precipitation of the REE sulfate concentrate and the distribution of toxic and radioactive elements;

- no data on the chemical composition of "pure" gypsum;

Https://www.sundancetimes.com/story/2023/06/01/news/rer-gears-up-to-build-demo-plant/7633.html

In what I wrote, unlike RBW technology, no acids are used. Phosphogypsum is converted to calcium carbonate, with 95% REE being extracted into the solution. To do this, we use CO2, thereby utilizing it and reducing emissions into the atmosphere.

Your knowledge of REE chemistry is the same as that of an ant on the structure of the earth

The most environmentally friendly technology:

Phosphogypsum from dumps is mixed with a solution of an alkali metal or ammonium carbonate with a concentration of ... ± 0.5 mol / l at a temperature of ... ± 10 ° C for ... ± 0.5 h at a ratio of L: S equal to .. .. ± 100 with respect to the amount of oxides of rare earth metals contained in phosphogypsum. Under these conditions, REM compounds are transferred into solution in the form of carbonate complexes. The insoluble part of the pulp is calcium carbonate containing impurities of iron and other elements that make up phosphogypsum. The conversion solution contains alkali metal (ammonium) sulfate, excess alkali metal (ammonium) carbonate, and REE in the form of carbonate complexes.

The degree of extraction of REE into solution is 95 ± 3%.

REE can be separated from a carbonate-sulfate solution by precipitation in the form of hydroxides when the solution is cooled to ... ± 5 °C or isolated by sorption on anion-exchange resins or by liquid extraction using anion-exchange extractants.

Https://www.mining-technology.com/news/src-extraction-rare-earth-processing/

Https://investingnews.com/stocks/tsx-ara/aclara-resources/

Https://www.thesundaily.my/local/mb-nr-ree-project-will-be-stopped-immediately-if-hazardous-to-health-LB11017084

"Digestion with sulfuric acid causes the selective separation and concentration of naturally occurring radium (226Ra), uranium (238U) and thorium (232Th): about 80% of 226Ra is concentrated in phospho-gypsum, while nearly 86% of 238U and 70% of 232Th end up in phosphoric acid (Tayibi et al., 2009). ." - a similar situation occurs when extracting REE from phosphogypsum with a solution of sulfuric acid. This is shown in "Table 7.7: REE Extraction Data at Various Sulfuric Acid Leach Concentrations" and "Table 7.8: REE Extraction Behavior at Various Resin Test Conditions".

you can think about it a little

Based on the results of laboratory studies, the results are obtained, and it is worth paying attention to them. "Figure 7.16: Permeate and Concentrate Stream Flows and Compositions at NF acid Recovery of 65%", then in NF Concentrate the content of Thorium (Th) -65.4 mg/l (very high), Pr -236 mg/l, Nd - 985 mg/l.

If a REE sulfate concentrate is precipitated, then thorium will be concentrated in it. If Th is precipitated selectively, then a dirty thorium concentrate is obtained - a "dirty bomb".

What to do with these?

Figure 7.16 is the last mention of thorium, as if it had "evaporated".

Amazing!!!

And what kind of Uranium -235 or -238 are you going to extract?)))

Thorium-232 is precisely extracted from phosphogypsum. And he is not alone, but also Radium -228. This is reflected in the PEA.

Only it is not specified how they will be distributed between "clean" gypsum, REE concentrate, as well as processing waste. How are they going to be disposed of?

Waste-free production does not exist !!!!!

Dear SmartPunter,

In matters of processing phosphogypsum, everything is clear to me.

Since you are a technology expert, can you tell me how the extraction of rare earth elements from the nitrophosphate process stream at a phosphoric acid plant near Johannesburg in South Africa was resolved.??????

https://tools.eurolandir.com/tools/Pressreleases/GetPressRelease/?ID=4113797&lang=en-GB&companycode=uk-rbw&v=r2022

I can assume that you do not have an answer to this question !!!!

The simplest solution to the problem of processing and accumulation of phosphogypsum, as well as its complex use, is to extract REE and toxic impurities from the process stream of sulfate or nitrate processing of apatite. This will make it possible to obtain high-quality "pure" gypsum, REE concentrate (suitable for further processing, we love from known methods).

However, there has been no information for almost a year.

https://tools.eurolandir.com/tools/Pressreleases/GetPressRelease/?ID=4113797&lang=en-GB&companycode=uk-rbw&v=r2022

Maybe Rainbow just doesn't have the technological solution.

Https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/1015321/namibia-critical-metals-assembles-rare-earth-alliance-to-evaluate-proposed-metal-separation-plant-1015321.html

It will probably be the first rare earth separation plant in Africa.

Https://investingnews.com/e-tech-resources-signs-mou-to-advance-feasibility-study-for-rare-earth-metal-separation-facility-in-namibia/ - very good solution

Https://www.horizonmagnets.com/news/may-2023-listing-prices-of-rare-earth-with-a-significant-decrease/

The Phalaborwa project is interesting from the point of view of processing existing and emerging waste from the production of phosphoric acid.

Since we are talking about WASTE, their processing should be comprehensive and environmentally friendly.

In this regard, a number of questions arise even for a pilot plant:

- incomplete extraction of REE 65-70%. Residual content of REE 1500ppm;

- the use of sulfuric acid with a concentration of 110-150 g / dm3 (10-15% solution of H2SO4) - causes the greatest corrosion of the apparatus. Also, phosphogypsum is an abrasive material. All this imposes special requirements on the choice of materials for apparatuses, pumps, and pipelines.

- high duration of the REE leaching process - 4-6 hours;

- there are no data on the waste generated after the precipitation of the REE sulfate concentrate and the distribution of toxic and radioactive elements;

- no data on the chemical composition of "pure" gypsum;

One gets the impression that taking phosphogypsum in one stack and extracting 65-70% REE, we get two stacks - a stack with "pure" gypsum and a stack containing radioactive and toxic elements (phosphorus, fluorine, heavy metals).

We are waiting for the launch of the pilot plant.

Vietnam's rare earth mine production jumped to 4,300 tonnes last year from 400 tonnes in 2021, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a government agency.

Its output is a tiny fraction of the amount top producers mined last year. China, the world's biggest producer, mined 210,000 tonnes in 2022, the United States 43,000 tonnes and Australia 18,000 tonnes.

But Vietnam's estimated reserves of 22 million tonnes are half of China's and larger than any other country, according to USGS. Its output growth last year, which turned it into the world's sixth biggest producer up from 10th in 2021, may signal a turning point in the exploitation of its resources.

It was also the only major Southeast Asian producer to boost output last year, with its larger regional competitors Myanmar and Thailand reporting lower production, USGS data showed.

The main beneficiary of the increased production in Vietnam appears to be China, the world's largest auto and EV market and also a major global manufacturing hub for electronic goods such as smartphones.

https://headtopics.com/sg/vietnam-boosts-rare-earths-output-by-tenfold-data-38777214