XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 1321
four stages of extraction, four stages of scrubbing and four
stages of stripping.
The REE Recovery Circuit uses a 18 v% mixture of
DG6, 20 v% tridecyl-alcohol diluted in kerosene. The
demonstration circuit has the same configuration as the
commercial circuit and operates in series on the raffinate
of the iron recovery circuit. It utilizes 25 mL per minute
of organic for an approximate operating O:A of 5:3. The
scrubbing circuit uses 7 mL per minute of a 0.5 M HCl,
1.2 M MgCl2 solution. The stripping circuit uses 20 mL
per minute of a 0.15 M HCl solution. Elemental deporta-
tion in the DG6 demonstration circuit per product stream
is presented as Figure 15.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the work presented in this paper by L3
Process Development and Niocorp Developments Ltd. rep-
resents a significant advancement in the field of rare earth
element (REE) recovery, particularly scandium, from the
Elk Creek deposit. The innovative process developed cir-
cumvents traditional hydrometallurgical techniques, favor-
ing a high activity approach that remarkably improves REE
and scandium recovery rates.
The methodical progression from bench scale to dem-
onstration scale, underpinned by L3s scrum approach, has
not only demonstrated the feasibility of this novel process
but also its scalability. The high lixiviation rates achieved
for most metals, except titanium and niobium, are a testa-
ment to the efficacy of the process, particularly when com-
pared to previous iterations. This evolution in the process
design, especially the elimination of acid neutralization in
the core operation, is a notable stride forward.
The utilization of the ammonium chloride cycle for
calcium and magnesium removal, followed by a carefully
managed hydrochloric acid leach, and the regeneration of
hydrochloric acid through the pyro hydrolysis of the iron
recover in the TBP circuit significantly reduced by the
Figure 14. TBP circuit elemental distribution
four stages of extraction, four stages of scrubbing and four
stages of stripping.
The REE Recovery Circuit uses a 18 v% mixture of
DG6, 20 v% tridecyl-alcohol diluted in kerosene. The
demonstration circuit has the same configuration as the
commercial circuit and operates in series on the raffinate
of the iron recovery circuit. It utilizes 25 mL per minute
of organic for an approximate operating O:A of 5:3. The
scrubbing circuit uses 7 mL per minute of a 0.5 M HCl,
1.2 M MgCl2 solution. The stripping circuit uses 20 mL
per minute of a 0.15 M HCl solution. Elemental deporta-
tion in the DG6 demonstration circuit per product stream
is presented as Figure 15.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the work presented in this paper by L3
Process Development and Niocorp Developments Ltd. rep-
resents a significant advancement in the field of rare earth
element (REE) recovery, particularly scandium, from the
Elk Creek deposit. The innovative process developed cir-
cumvents traditional hydrometallurgical techniques, favor-
ing a high activity approach that remarkably improves REE
and scandium recovery rates.
The methodical progression from bench scale to dem-
onstration scale, underpinned by L3s scrum approach, has
not only demonstrated the feasibility of this novel process
but also its scalability. The high lixiviation rates achieved
for most metals, except titanium and niobium, are a testa-
ment to the efficacy of the process, particularly when com-
pared to previous iterations. This evolution in the process
design, especially the elimination of acid neutralization in
the core operation, is a notable stride forward.
The utilization of the ammonium chloride cycle for
calcium and magnesium removal, followed by a carefully
managed hydrochloric acid leach, and the regeneration of
hydrochloric acid through the pyro hydrolysis of the iron
recover in the TBP circuit significantly reduced by the
Figure 14. TBP circuit elemental distribution