Sponsor: US Department of Energy

Partner: University of Utah

Abstract: There is a clear need to develop domestic sourcing and production of critical materials for modern technology and clean energy production.  There is an opportunity to source critical materials from coal-based resources in the form of rare earth oxides (REO), rare earth salts (RES), rare earth metals (REM), and critical minerals and materials (CMM) through advanced processing.  In order to meet these needs and utilize these opportunities, we propose this project to utilize and improve innovative processing technologies to extract, recover, separate, purify, and produce high purity REO/RES/REM/CMM from coal by-products feedstock materials. The team of Virginia Tech and the University of Utah has already developed and commercially licensed five specific innovative processing technologies for REE/CMM processing that include targeted mineral particle separations to upgrade feed concentrations of REE/CMM, environmentally friendly extraction methods, innovative materials for selective ion separations, high efficiency/low energy ion separation technologies, and hydrogen-assisted magnesiothermic reduction technologies that are capable of producing high purity metals from critical and rare earth element sources.  Each of these technologies is designed to significantly reduce overall processing costs and environmental footprints.  We believe we are uniquely positioned to address the objectives of this program with innovative technologies that cover the full range of processing and purification needs.