Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A mathematical model for column leaching of ion adsorption-type rare earth ores

  • Published:
International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Column leaching experiments with ion adsorption-type rare earth ores for different lixiviant concentrations and different column heights were carried out. A mathematical model of column leaching was constructed based on the experimental data. Two parameters (a and b) in the model were determined according to the following methodology: the ore column was divided into several units; each unit was treated with multiple leaching steps. The leaching process was simulated as a series of batch leaching experiments. Parameter a of the model was determined based on the selectivity coefficient of the balanced batch leaching experiment. Further, the influences of ammonium sulfate concentration, rare earth grade, column height, permeability coefficient, and hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient on the extraction were analyzed. Relationships between parameter b, the ammonium sulfate concentration, and the physical and mechanical properties of the ore column, were examined using dimensional analysis. It was determined that the optimal ammonium sulfate concentration for different column heights (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 cm) using the mathematical model were 5.9, 6.2, 7.3, and 7.7 g/L, respectively. The mathematical model can be used to estimate the breakthrough curve, leaching rate, and leaching period of rare earth ores, to achieve optimal extraction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. X.P. Luo, L.P. Zou, P.L. Ma, C.G. Luo, J. Xu, and X.K. Tang, Removing aluminum from a low-concentration lixivium of weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ore with neutralizing hydrolysis, Rare Met., 36(2017), No. 8, p. 685.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. G.A. Moldoveanu and V.G. Papangelakis, Recovery of rare earth elements adsorbed on clay minerals: I. Desorption mechanism, Hydrometallurgy, 117–118(2012), p. 71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Y.F. Xiao, Z.Y. Feng, G.H. Hu, L. Huang, X.W. Huang, Y.Y Chen, and M.L. Li, Leaching and mass transfer characteristics of elements from ion adsorption-type rare earth ore, Rare Met., 34(2015), No. 5, p. 357.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. J. Tian, Kinetics and Mass Transfer in Leaching Rare Earth From the Weathered Crust Elution–Deposited Rare Earth Ore [Dissertation], Central South University, Changsha, 2010, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  5. R.A. Chi and J. Tian, Weathered Crust Elution–Deposited Rare Earth Ores, Nova Science Publishers, New York, 2008, p. 21.

    Google Scholar 

  6. T.S. Qiu, X.H. Fang, H.Q. Wu, Q.H. Zeng, and D.M. Zhu, Leaching behaviors of iron and aluminum elements of ionabsorbed-rare-earth ore with a new impurity depressant, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 24(2014), No. 9, p. 2986.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. G.S. Wang, Y.M. Lai, P. Long, S.L. Hu, B.G. Hong, and Y. Gui, Calculation moisture content distribution around injection hole during in-situ leaching process of ion-adsorption rare earth mines, Chin. J. Geotech. Eng., 40(2018), No. 5, p. 910.

    Google Scholar 

  8. R.A. Chi and J. Tian, Review of weathered crust rare earth ore, J. Chin. Rare Earth Soc., 25(2007), No. 6, p. 641.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. T.S. Qiu, H.S. Yan, J.F. Li, Q.S. Liu, and G.H. Ai, Response surface method for optimization of leaching of a low-grade ionic rare earth ore, Powder Technol., 330(2018), p. 330.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Q.X. Jing, H. Guo, X.D. Huang, W. Wang, S.W. Zhong, and Y.X. Huang, Study on adsorption of ammonium by kaolinite in soil of ionic rare earth mining area, China Min. Mag., 25(2016), No. 12, p. 64.

    Google Scholar 

  11. J. Tian, J.Q. Yin, K.H. Chen, G.H. Rao, M.T. Jiang, and R.A. Chi, Optimisation of mass transfer in column elution of rare earths from low grade weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ore, Hydrometallurgy, 103(2010), No. 1–4, p. 211.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. J. Tian, X.K. Tang, J.Q. Yin, X.P. Luo, G.H. Rao, and M.T. Jiang, Process optimization on leaching of a lean weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ores, Int. J. Miner. Process., 119(2013), p. 83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. T.S. Qiu, D.M. Zhu, X.H. Fang, Q.H. Zeng, G.K. Gao, and H.L. Zhu, Leaching kinetics of ionic rare-earth in ammonia–nitrogen wastewater system added with impurity inhibitors, J. Rare Earths, 32(2014), No. 12, p. 1175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Z.Y. He, Z.Y. Zhang, J.X. Yu, Z.G. Xu, Y.L. Xu, F. Zhou, and R.A. Chi, Column leaching process of rare earth and aluminum from weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ore with ammonium salts, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 26(2016), No. 11, p. 3024.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. J. Tian, J.Q. Yin, X.K. Tang, C. Ji, X.P. Luo, and G.H. Rao, Enhanced leaching process of a low-grade weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ore with carboxymethyl sesbania gum, Hydrometallurgy, 139(2013), p. 124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. L. Wang, C.F. Liao, Y.M. Yang, H.B. Xu, Y.F. Xiao, and C.H. Yan, Effects of organic acids on the leaching process of ion adsorption-type rare earth ore, J. Rare Earths, 35(2017), No. 12, p. 1233.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Y.F. Xiao, Z.Y. Feng, X.W. Huang, L. Huang, Y.Y. Chen, L.S. Wang, and Z.Q. Long, Recovery of rare earths from weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ore without ammonia–nitrogen pollution: I. leaching with magnesium sulfate, Hydrometallurgy, 153(2015), p. 58.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. F.G. Lai, G.H. Gao, L. Huang, Y.F. Xiao, R. Yang, and K.Z. Li, Compound leaching of rare earth from the ion-adsorption type rare earth ore with magnesium sulfate and ascorbic acid, Hydrometallurgy, 179(2018), p. 25.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Y.F. Xiao, Y.Y. Chen, Z.Y. Feng, X.W. Huang, L. Huang, Z.Q. Long, and D.L. Cui, Leaching characteristics of ionadsorption type rare earths ore with magnesium sulfate, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 25(2015), No. 11, p. 3784.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Z.Y. He, Z.Y. Zhang, J.X. Yu, Z.G. Xu, and R.A. Chi, Process optimization of rare earth and aluminum leaching from weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ore with compound ammonium salts, J. Rare Earths, 34(2016), No. 4, p. 413.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Y.F. Xiao, Z.Y. Feng, X.W. Huang, L. Huang, Y.Y. Chen, X.S. Liu, L.S. Wang, and Z.Q. Long, Recovery of rare earth from the ion-adsorption type rare earths ore: II. Compound leaching, Hydrometallurgy, 163(2016), p. 83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Y.F. Xiao, F.G. Lai, L. Huang, Z.Y. Feng, and Z.Q. Long, Reduction leaching of rare earth from ion-adsorption type rare earths ore: II. Compound leaching, Hydrometallurgy, 173(2017), p. 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. S.H. Yin, Y. Qi, F.F. Xie, X. Chen, and L.M. Wang, Permeability characteristic of weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ores under different pore structures, Chin. J. Nonferrous Met., 28(2018), No. 5, p. 1043.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. H. Li, Z.G. Xu, J.X. Yu, Y.F. Zhang, and R.A. Chi, Study on ore properties of the weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ore and rare earth contents in various grain-size, Chin. Rare Earths, 33(2012), No. 2, p. 14.

    Google Scholar 

  25. J. Tian, R.A. Chi, and J.Q. Yin, Leaching process of rare earths from weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ore, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 20(2010), No. 5, p. 892.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Y.X. Li, Ion Adsorption Rare Earth Resources and Their Green Extraction, Chemical Industry Press, Beijing, 2014, p. 169.

    Google Scholar 

  27. B.C. O’Kelly, Oven-drying characteristics of soils of different origins, Dry. Technol., 23(2005), No. 5, p. 1141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. J. Villermaux, Chemical engineering approach to dynamic modelling of linear chromatography: A flexible method for representing complex phenomena from simple concepts, J. Chromatogr. A, 406(1987), p. 11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. S.L. Hu, X.J. Cao, G.S. Wang, P. Long, and X.Y. Zhou, An ion exchange model for leaching process of weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth, Min. Metall. Eng., 38(2018), No. 4, p. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  30. P. Long, G.S. Wang, J. Tian, S.L. Hu, and S.H. Luo, Simulation of one-dimensional column leaching of weathered crust elution–deposited rare earth ore, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 29(2019), No. 3, p. 625.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. G.A. Moldoveanu and V.G. Papangelakis, An overview of rare-earth recovery by ion-exchange leaching from ion-adsorption clays of various origins, Miner. Mag., 80(2016), No. 1, p. 63.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. K. Mazurek, Recovery of vanadium, potassium and iron from a spent vanadium catalyst by oxalic acid solution leaching, precipitation and ion exchange processes, Hydrometallurgy, 134–135(2013), p. 26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. C. Welty and L.W. Gelhar, Evaluation of longitudinal dispersivity from nonuniform flow tracer tests, J. Hydrol., 153(1994), No. 1–4, p. 71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. P. Heidari and L. Li, Solute transport in low-heterogeneity sandboxes: The role of correlation length and permeability variance, Water Resour. Res., 50(2014), No. 10, p. 8240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51664015, 41602311, and 51774156), and the Jiangxi University of Science and Technology Qingjiang Youth Elite Support Program (No. JXUSTQJBJ2016007).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China

    Ping Long

  2. Cooperative Innovation Center of Efficient Development and Application for Ionic Rare Earth Resources, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China

    Ping Long

  3. School of Architectural and Surveying and Mapping Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China

    Guan-shi Wang, Shuo Zhang, Shi-li Hu & Ying Huang

Authors
  1. Ping Long
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guan-shi Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shuo Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shi-li Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ying Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guan-shi Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Long, P., Wang, Gs., Zhang, S. et al. A mathematical model for column leaching of ion adsorption-type rare earth ores. Int J Miner Metall Mater 27, 463–471 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-019-1883-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-019-1883-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation