Mining of Rare Earth Elements (REE)s;Rare Earth Elements (REE);bastnaesite route;Rare Earth Elements (REE) containing ore

Categories:
Categories:
Unit processes/Materials production/Non-energetic raw materials
Location:
NMG-CN
Reference year: 2014 -
Description

The REE (Rare Earth Element) production process analyzed in this study, including mining and solvent extraction with finishing processes such as precipitation and calcination, is intended for the production of REE-containing compounds applicable in various high-tech industries like electronics, clean energy, and aerospace engineering. When utilizing this LCA data set, it is important to consider the differences in mineralogy and processing routes as they may affect comparability. Attention should also be given to radioactivity flows, waste treatment, and the presence of co-products in addition to REE which are inherent in co-mining activities. The functional unit for comparison is the production of 1 kg of REO (Rare Earth Oxides) basket from each specific mineralogical and processing route. Methodological consistency must be maintained across assessments for accurate comparisons and decision making.

Technology

In this study, the REE production system was analyzed from mining up to and including solvent extraction which contains product finishing processes such as precipitation and calcination

Process type
Unit
LCI modeling approach
Attributional
Multifunctional modeling
NONE
Format
ILCD
Aggregation type
NOT_APPLICABLE
Data provider
TianGong
Review status
Internal
Cost
Free
Contact
Tiangong LCI Data Working Group