Processing for the extraction of rare earth elements
AssigneeRare Element Resources Ltd.
InventorHenry Kasaini
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Processing schemes for the extraction and/or separation of rare earth elements (REEs) from rare earth containing products such as rare earth mineral ore bodies and intermediate products derived from rare earth mineral ore bodies. The processing schemes may be applied independently or in various combinations to produce end-products that have a very high purity with respect to REEs, including high value critical REEs. The processes may include acid digestion, formation of rare earth oxalate compounds, metathesizing of rare earth oxalate compounds, selective precipitation and/or solvent extraction to form the high purity REE end products.
Claims13
A method for the removal of thorium from an REE-containing acidic solution, the REE-containing acidic solution comprising thorium and at least one rare earth element, the method comprising the steps of:
- contacting the REE-containing acidic solution with a phosphinic acid-type extractant to extract at least a portion of the thorium from the REE-containing acidic solution, whereby a thorium-depleted raffinate and a thorium-loaded extractant are formed;
- and
- contacting the thorium-loaded extractant with oxalic acid to strip thorium from the thorium-loaded extractant and form a thorium-depleted extractant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.