Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential dual use materials incorporated into components of today’s emerging technologies
The DOE-NETL Rare Earth Elements program which began in 2014 is focused on advancing conventional and developing new technologies and processes for the extraction, separation and recovery of REEs from coal and coal by-products
The rare earth elements (REEs) or lanthanide series, and scandium and yttrium, are present in low concentrations in coal and coal-related feedstock materials. The goal of the Rare Earth Elements program is validating the technical and economic feasibility of producing high purity REE concentrates in domestic prototype separation facilities using these resources.
Coal and coal-based feedstocks and process separated rare earth element-containing materials
Three domestic bench/pilot-scale operating facilities will domestically be producing REEs from coal and coal-based resources in 2019
The Feasibility of Recovering Rare Earth Elements Program is currently focused on developing technologies for the recovery of rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals (CM) from coal and coal-based resources. This R&D program consists of developing process and production technologies, environmental management, and field materials sampling and characterization, along with systems integration, optimization and efficiency improvements to produce REEs and CMs from coal and coal byproduct streams, such as coal refuse, clay/sandstone over/under-burden materials, power generation ash and aqueous effluents as acid mine drainage (AMD) and sludge.
Our nation’s vast coal resources contain quantities of REEs that offer the potential to reduce our dependence on others for these critical materials and create new industries in regions where coal plays an important economic role. The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE-NETL) REE-CM Program offers a pathway to improve the economics and reduce the environmental impact of a domestic coal-based value chain. The development of an economically competitive supply of REEs and CMs will assist in securing and maintaining our nation’s economic growth and national security.
Congressional Funding and Program Metrics
As a response to initially receiving Congressional funding in 2014 - to perform an assessment and analysis of the feasibility of economically recovering rare earth elements from coal and coal byproduct streams, such as fly ash, coal refuse and aqueous effluents - DOE-NETL’s REE Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Program grew to over 30 active projects in 2018, which focused on:
Through its metrics, the REE Program fully supports FY19’s Congressional directive - to continue its external agency activities to develop and test advanced separation technologies and accelerate the advancement of commercially viable technologies for the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements and minerals from U.S. coal and coal byproduct sources.
Program Structure
The Feasibility of Recovering Rare Earth ElementsProgram consists of three key core technology areas:
