(746a) Production of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals from Coal-Based Resources

DOE-NETL’s Rare Earth Element and Critical Minerals (REE-CM) Program has demonstrated the technical feasibility of recovering REEs from coal and coal-based materials, and has recently achieved production of small quantities of 80-90% pure, mixed rare earth oxide concentrates, in first-of-a-kind, domestic bench/pilot-scale extraction, separation and recovery facilities. Technology development is now focused on addressing system scale-up with process optimization and efficiency improvements, with improved economics and recovery of critical minerals, ultimately targeting production of salable rare earth oxides and metals, as well as critical minerals for incorporation into commodity and national defense intermediate and end products. Accomplishments in each of these areas will be discussed.