How Do You Concentrate the Rare Earth Elements ?
The question of how to extract rare earth minerals from waste coal has been posed to us repeatedly. Indeed, there is no single solution to this issue; rather, it involves a sequence of processes.
STEP 1
The process begins with pulverizing waste coal, stone, and other materials into a fine powder, readying it for the subsequent phase. Depending on the material being processed, we might employ various types of crushers, including rod mills, cone crushers, jaw crushers, roll crushers, or hammer mills.
Step 2
Gasification is a process that offers more value through synthesis gas, or syngas, than the thermal energy obtained from burning coal. Syngas, composed of CO, CO2, and H2, can power turbines for electricity generation. Additionally, it can be transformed into various clean fuels such as jet fuel, diesel, gasoline, ethanol, methanol, hydrogen, and natural gas through a Fischer-Tropsch system, which is part of Step 3.
The initial gasifiers we plan to use will have the capacity to process 50-60 tons of waste daily, producing clean syngas. Future developments will focus on larger units capable of handling 250 tons per day.
A significant benefit of this technology is the ability to construct the equipment offsite in a factory, and then rapidly deploy it globally. This capability is crucial for the implementation of Steps 3 and 4.
The gasifier, acquired via a partner company, will undergo redesigning to meet our specific requirements for use.
Step 3
Now that we’ve transformed waste coal into synthesis gas, it’s time to turn it into something beneficial. For this, we require a technology invented in the 1920s that has been used to create diesel fuel, gasoline, jet fuel, and more from coal.
This technology is known as the Fischer-Tropsch process, or gas-to-liquids (GTL). It involves converting the produced syngas into liquid fuels or other gases using catalysts that facilitate the formation of synthetic fuels for jet engines and other types of engines.
The GTL plant engineering firm we’re collaborating with is capable of producing small-scale plants that generate from 100 to 2,000 barrels of synthetic fuel per day. These plants are transportable and designed for quick and easy onsite setup.
Step 4
We have been producing jet fuel from waste coal, and with the help of plasma gasifiers we are ready to extract rare earth minerals, aluminum, cobalt, lithium, and more from the ash and slag created during the gasification process.
Although this article simplifies the process, the waste concentrate undergoes several phases of processing to extract the minerals critical to our national security.
We employ ionic liquids, assorted acids, and flotation fluids because different minerals respond uniquely to each of the processes and substances used. We reserve the specifics of our processes for the partner organizations we collaborate with on projects.
Why Choose Us
Reason 1
Decades of Experience in the Green Energy Space starting in the 1990s.
Reason 2
We have been working with gasifier technologies since 2005.
benefit 3
We understand the essential Gas-to-Liquids and catalytic processes.
benefit 4
We have a firm grasp of the procedures and chemicals required to extract rare earth minerals.
Let us help you turn the waste coal pile polluting your property into a source of financial wealth. Not only do we clear away the waste coal pile, we also eliminate Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), produce clean jet fuel and diesel fuel, and recover valuable mineral resources.
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