Technology Description
Researchers in Young-Shin Jun’s lab at Washington University have developed a more sustainable and efficient process for extracting rare earth elements from coal fly ash using supercritical fluids. Compared to the conventional roasting and acid leaching method, supercritical fluid extraction uses considerably less energy and produces no liquid or organic waste, while also yielding rare earth elements at 10x purity.
Overview of the supercritical fluid extraction process from coal fly ash
Most rare earth elements are currently mined internationally, creating a supply chain vulnerable to geopolitical factors. This technology enables a more robust and sustainable extraction process from coal products like fly ash, reducing our reliance on mined rare earth elements.
Stage of Research
The inventors have demonstrated 10x increased purity and high extraction efficiency using this process, when compared to conventional extraction methods. Further, those results are consistent regardless of the supercritical fluid used: scCO2, scN2, or scAir.
Applications
- Rare earth element extraction from coal based products:
- Coal fly ash
- Coal bottom ash
- Pulverized coal
Key Advantages
- Yields 10x increased purity
- Produces no liquid or organic waste
- Requires less energy than typical roasting process
Patents: Pending
