ENVIronmentally friendly and efficient extraction of Rare Earth Elements from secondary sources

Purpose and goal

The ENVIREE project aimed at strengthening the REE supply within Europe by addressing exploitation of specific secondary sources. The purpose was to study innovative approaches in processing (beneficiation, leaching, and separation) of identified materials and to provide economic and environmental assessment of the tested methods. The research was supported by education, training and dissemination activities. Interaction with the target groups aimed at moving the results towards the market.

Expected results and effects

Extensive sampling provided useful information on REE content in different mine wastes. For the selected samples from Portugal and Sweden beneficiation techniques were developed. While the search for an effective and environmentally friendly leaching was not fully successful, economic and environmental analyses were performed for the developed beneficiation processes making it possible to guide future prospectors in this field. Training and education activity was a clear success of the project.

Planned approach and implementation

Project was divided into 6 work packages (WP). WP1 dealt with the characterization of the samples and the most promising sources were selected. WP2 performed beneficiation. Pre-concentrated materials were supplied to the leaching task in the same WP. WP2 provided leaching solution to the WP3, where REEs were separated and recovered using solvent extraction and ionic liquids. New molecules for the extraction were also developed. WP4 provided LCA analysis for the studied processes. In WP5 dissemination of the results and education was performed. WP6 dealt with the project management.