ANYL26B - Reengineering Mining and Extractive Metallurgy: Green Mining

Session Co-chairs: E. S. Peterson, D. Schuster

Speaker Abstracts

Industrial perspectives on separation science and technology for critical materials recovery

J. Burba, Simbol Materials

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Industrially feasible separation science and technology is the cornerstone of the economic and environmentally sustainable recovery of critical materials. In this talk, Dr. John L. Burba, CEO of Simbol Materials, will highlight several of the key aspects that must be considered in commercializing new research technology into industrial applications. This perspective encompasses a wide variety breadth and depth of direct experiences, from invention, laboratory development, product design, process design, scale up, and commercialization. Some specific background examples include:

1. Developing a proprietary mineral extraction technology at Simbol Materials to unlock a vast untapped resource for lithium and other specialty materials from the mineral rich geothermal brines located in California
2. Restarting Molycorp's Mountain Pass mine in California, once the world's dominant producer of rare earth elements, with advanced and new technology of nearly 100% water recycle, proprietary impurity removal steps, and selfsufficient electricity generation through combined heat and power, identifying and
3. Developing coal, molybdenum, cobalt and rare earth technologies for Chevron Mining, FMC, and Dow Chemical.

Strategies for diversifying the supply of critical materials for clean energy

B. Moyer, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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This presentation will describe technology gaps in the supply chain for critical materials (CM) for clean energy together with the technology development program being undertaken within the newly funded Critical Materials Institute (CMI) in the US to address those gaps. Defining its critical supply needs in terms of clean-energy technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient lighting, the US Department of Energy identified five rare earth elements (REE) as critical materials and several other elements, such as lithium, as near-critical. One focus area within CMI conducts research aiming to diversify the supply of CM and eliminate bottlenecks in the supply chain from mineral processing through production of metals and alloys. To open new sources of CM, projects seek to improve REE ore beneficiation using froth flotation, to develop methods for recovering REE from phosphate ore, and to find better methods for recovering lithium from geothermal brine. Enhanced separation technologies are being developed to separate adjacent lanthanides using solvent extraction, to electroplate REE metals and alloys from molten salts and ionic liquids, and to dissolve and separate REE from ore concentrate using ionic liquids. A computational effort seeks to substantially accelerate the design of novel separation agents for CM. Taking an indirect tack to diversify the supply of critical REE, we are also developing new uses for the abundant REE, La and Ce, which will improve the economics of recovering and purifying the less abundant critical REE. Collaboration with industrial partners will be key - from the outset of planning to ensure a positive outcome in terms of commercialized technologies that have real impact on the supply of CM for clean energy.

Separation science and technology education: Extractive metallurgy perspective

C. Anderson, Colorado School of Mines

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This presentation will cover the history, evolution and very definition of Critical and Strategic Metals. Ironically, this issue emanates directly from the current global Extractive Metallurgical Separation Science and Technology Education demographic skill crisis. An example juxtaposition will be drawn on two current metal sectors to help illustrate the root cause of Criticality, which at its core is an increasing lack of available experienced technical talent. Finally, the existing and new programs in place at Colorado School of Mines Krill Institute for Extractive Metallurgy addressing current and future Critical and Strategic Metals education, research and technology challenges will be outlined.

Speaker Bios