Effect of solution chemistry on filtration performances and fouling potential of membrane processes for rare earth element recovery from red mud

Azmat Fatima Siddiqui, Ayse Yuksekdag, Gizem Tuncay, Borte Kose-Mutlu*, Mark Wiesner, Ismail Koyuncu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Rare earth elements or REEs are a vital and irreplaceable part of our modern technological and digital industries. Among the REEs that are the most critical to be recovered are Ce, La, and particularly, Nd, and Y, due to high demand and at a potential future supply risk. Innovative techniques must be considered to recover REEs from secondary resources. In this study, REEs are extracted from iron mining sludge from Central Anatolia in Turkey. Two different acid solutions were compared, one with a higher acid content (120 ml HCl and 80 ml HNO3 per liter) and one with lower acid content (20 ml HNO3 per liter). Nanofiltration, as a process to concentrate the acidic leachate and increase the REE concentration, was carried out at pH levels of 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 and under 12, 18, and 24 bar operating pressures. SLM studies had been carried out using a PVDF membrane with a pore diameter of 0.45 μm, with three different carriers to separate the REEs from other major elements in the concentrated leachate. Through this analysis, the optimum operating conditions for nanofiltration are at pH 3.5 at 12 bar, using the leach with low acidity, achieving about 90% recovery efficiency of the REEs. SLM studies using 0.3M D2EHPA, with a 3-h reaction time, showed the highest mass flux values for the REEs. Nanofiltration and SLM represent novel methods of REE concentration and extraction from iron mining sludge.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)61137-61150
Number of pages14
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume28
Issue number43
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Funding

AFS and BKM were responsible for the writing and editing of the proposed article. Research work, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data were conducted by AFS, AY, and GT. Conceptualization and study design were determined by IK, MW, BKM, and AY. IK was also responsible for funding acquisition and supervision.

FundersFunder number
TUBITAK117Y357
Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu

    Keywords

    • Nanofiltration
    • Rare earth elements
    • Recovery
    • Red mud
    • Supported liquid membranes

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