1354 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
enhancing the efficiency of the process. Mixing and agita-
tion are key factors in optimizing the adsorption of metals
in mineral processing. A good mixing process is valuable
because it reduces investment, cost of operation, and pro-
duces high yields in terms of metal recoveries when there
is limited or low mass transfer (Suzanne M. Kresta et al,
2015).
Resonant vibratory mixing is a novel method also
known as resonant acoustic mixing and it works by using
low frequency vibrancy to blend and interpenetrate differ-
ent material combinations without the need for mechani-
cal contact. Resonant vibratory mixing is a new technology
which is applied in a lot of industries already but will now
be used as a novel method to optimize recovery rate of rare
earth elements extraction from aqueous solutions. The
optimization of rare earth elements adsorption from aque-
ous solution involves homogenous mixing of the biochar
adsorbent and the liquid containing various concentrations
of the rare earth chloride salts, hence a laboratory scale con-
tinuous flow reactor was designed and built for this pur-
pose. The lab RAM II resonant vibratory mixer is shown
in Figure 3.
In this research, “Resonant Vibratory Mixing” (RAM)
was applied to intensify process of adsorption of rare earth
elements with biochar thereby improving the recovery of
the process. Adsorption capacity of a mixture of light and
heavy rare earth chlorides was determined by utilizing reso-
nant vibratory mixer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials
The biochar adsorbent material used for this research
was produced in the CHAR laboratory of Montana
Technological University. The rare earth ore samples used
for this study was supplied by Rare Elements Resources
limited from the bear lodge ore deposits in Wyoming. The
process of the biochar production is shown in Figure 4.
Chemicals
All chemicals used for this research were of analyte grade.
lanthanum chloride hexahydrate, neodymium chloride
hexahydrate, holmium chloride hexahydrate, and dyspro-
sium chloride hexahydrate were purchased from Strem
chemicals inc. Praseodymium chloride and terbium chlo-
ride hexahydrate were purchased from Alfa Aesar chemi-
cals. Analytical standard solutions of lanthanum, holmium,
praseodymium, neodymium, and dysprosium were pur-
chased from inorganic ventures, oxalic Acid dihydrate was
purchased from Ward’s Science, terbium standard solution
was purchased from Alfa Aesar (Specpure), while SPADNS
reagent was purchased from HACH company.
Materials Characterization Methods
The structure and surface morphology of the biochar
before and after adsorption experiments were investigated
by using the MIRA3 TESCAN TIMA scanning electron
microscope. The surface of the biochar samples before
and after adsorption were analyzed with focused electron
beam using an accelerating voltage of 10.0Kv to provide
increased penetration depth and high resolution. A larger
working distance of 15.55 mm was used during the analysis
to create wide field depth and greater focus.
The surface functional groups of the biochar sample were
analyzed using the SHIMADZU IRTracer-100 Reflectance
Infra-red Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS)
equipment in range number of 450 to 4000 cm–1. A
combination of 5% biochar sample and 95% potassium
bromide (KBr) was pulverized using Cole-Parmer Agate
mortar and pestle. The analysis of the sample was initiated,
spectra ranges recorded for potassium bromide as reference,
and biochar spectra was analyzed afterwards.
The surface area and pore sizes of the biochar sam-
ples before and after adsorption were determined by the
Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyzer. The two samples
were placed in weighing boats. Two 9 mm cells were cho-
sen because they can accommodate the required amount
of biochar sample for the analysis. The empty sample cells
were first weighed with OHAUS explorer weighing balance
and the weights were recorded. The two biochar samples
Source: Resodyne corporation
Figure 3. Lab RAM II Resonant acoustic mixer
enhancing the efficiency of the process. Mixing and agita-
tion are key factors in optimizing the adsorption of metals
in mineral processing. A good mixing process is valuable
because it reduces investment, cost of operation, and pro-
duces high yields in terms of metal recoveries when there
is limited or low mass transfer (Suzanne M. Kresta et al,
2015).
Resonant vibratory mixing is a novel method also
known as resonant acoustic mixing and it works by using
low frequency vibrancy to blend and interpenetrate differ-
ent material combinations without the need for mechani-
cal contact. Resonant vibratory mixing is a new technology
which is applied in a lot of industries already but will now
be used as a novel method to optimize recovery rate of rare
earth elements extraction from aqueous solutions. The
optimization of rare earth elements adsorption from aque-
ous solution involves homogenous mixing of the biochar
adsorbent and the liquid containing various concentrations
of the rare earth chloride salts, hence a laboratory scale con-
tinuous flow reactor was designed and built for this pur-
pose. The lab RAM II resonant vibratory mixer is shown
in Figure 3.
In this research, “Resonant Vibratory Mixing” (RAM)
was applied to intensify process of adsorption of rare earth
elements with biochar thereby improving the recovery of
the process. Adsorption capacity of a mixture of light and
heavy rare earth chlorides was determined by utilizing reso-
nant vibratory mixer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials
The biochar adsorbent material used for this research
was produced in the CHAR laboratory of Montana
Technological University. The rare earth ore samples used
for this study was supplied by Rare Elements Resources
limited from the bear lodge ore deposits in Wyoming. The
process of the biochar production is shown in Figure 4.
Chemicals
All chemicals used for this research were of analyte grade.
lanthanum chloride hexahydrate, neodymium chloride
hexahydrate, holmium chloride hexahydrate, and dyspro-
sium chloride hexahydrate were purchased from Strem
chemicals inc. Praseodymium chloride and terbium chlo-
ride hexahydrate were purchased from Alfa Aesar chemi-
cals. Analytical standard solutions of lanthanum, holmium,
praseodymium, neodymium, and dysprosium were pur-
chased from inorganic ventures, oxalic Acid dihydrate was
purchased from Ward’s Science, terbium standard solution
was purchased from Alfa Aesar (Specpure), while SPADNS
reagent was purchased from HACH company.
Materials Characterization Methods
The structure and surface morphology of the biochar
before and after adsorption experiments were investigated
by using the MIRA3 TESCAN TIMA scanning electron
microscope. The surface of the biochar samples before
and after adsorption were analyzed with focused electron
beam using an accelerating voltage of 10.0Kv to provide
increased penetration depth and high resolution. A larger
working distance of 15.55 mm was used during the analysis
to create wide field depth and greater focus.
The surface functional groups of the biochar sample were
analyzed using the SHIMADZU IRTracer-100 Reflectance
Infra-red Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS)
equipment in range number of 450 to 4000 cm–1. A
combination of 5% biochar sample and 95% potassium
bromide (KBr) was pulverized using Cole-Parmer Agate
mortar and pestle. The analysis of the sample was initiated,
spectra ranges recorded for potassium bromide as reference,
and biochar spectra was analyzed afterwards.
The surface area and pore sizes of the biochar sam-
ples before and after adsorption were determined by the
Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyzer. The two samples
were placed in weighing boats. Two 9 mm cells were cho-
sen because they can accommodate the required amount
of biochar sample for the analysis. The empty sample cells
were first weighed with OHAUS explorer weighing balance
and the weights were recorded. The two biochar samples
Source: Resodyne corporation
Figure 3. Lab RAM II Resonant acoustic mixer