Sulfuric Acid Leaching Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Wizów’s Phosphogypsum in Poland

Linda Maina, Katarzyna Kiegiel (), Zbigniew Samczyński, Nils Haneklaus and Grażyna Zakrzewska-Kołtuniewicz
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Linda Maina: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Katarzyna Kiegiel: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Zbigniew Samczyński: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Nils Haneklaus: Td-Lab Sustainable Mineral Resources, University for Continuing Education Krems, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
Grażyna Zakrzewska-Kołtuniewicz: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: Rare earth elements (REEs) are considered vital raw materials for the economy and are on the European Union’s list of critical raw materials (CRMs). Europe is mainly dependent on REE imports. This dependence could be reduced if locally available primary or secondary resources would be processed. In Poland, there are, for instance, over 5 million metric tons of phosphogypsum (PG), a fine powdery byproduct from the fertilizer industry, available near the former Wizów Chemical Plant near Bolesławiec. This material that is considered a waste in Poland contains significant amounts of REEs that could theoretically be recovered and contribute to Europe’s economy. This work is the first systematic analysis of REE leaching studies with sulfuric acid and PG from Wizów. Process parameters such as temperature, particle size, concentration of the leaching solution, and the addition of oxidant and reductant agents were tested to determine the most efficient process. Ultimately, a leaching efficiency of 99% was obtained. Lanthanum exhibited the highest leaching efficiency at almost 100%, followed by Yttrium, Neodymium, Terbium, and Dysprosium. The results of the laboratory experiments are promising and suggest that larger pilot or commercial experiments can be performed next.

Keywords: rare earth elements; apatite; phosphogypsum; waste; sulfuric acid; leaching (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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