SX and calcination of Rare Earth Oxides (REO);Rare Earth Oxides (REO);bastnaesite route;Rare Earth Elements (REE) containing ore

Categories:
Categories:
Unit processes/Materials production/Inorganic chemicals
Location:
CN - China
Reference year: 2007 - 2020
Description

The processing route involving solvent extraction (SX) and calcination of rare earth oxides (REO), particularly from bastnaesite containing REE ore, is a critical unit procedure applied primarily in the separation and purification of rare earth elements. This industrial process is essential for producing REO, which are pivotal in various high-tech applications, such as in the manufacturing of permanent magnets, catalysts, glass additives, and specialized ceramics. The Bayan Obo region in the Chinese Southern Provinces is significant for its REO production capabilities. When utilizing this Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data, users must account for the lack of primary mining data from Bayan Obo by referencing alternative datasets derived from either iron or phosphate rock mining. Users are advised to be cautious of the uncertainties and differences in crucial parameters across the Life Cycle Inventories (LCIs) and should note the limitations in the comparability of Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) results due to varying methodology. Additionally, users may need to recalculate LCIA data when utilizing other LCIA methods not covered in this study. It is essential to consult supplementary material such as Tables S1 and S3 for detailed results and consider the technological applicability of the data carefully while integrating it into broader environmental assessments.

Technology

Because no primary mining data from Bayan Obo were available, LCI data in the studies (Sprecher, Arshi, Marx, Bailey (Classen et al., 2007)) are based on different data sources either from iron mining or in Althaus from phosphate rock mining. Main inputs are energy and blasting agent

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