The REE program portfolio currently consists of both intramural, as well as extramural projects, ranging from concept definition and development (Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1-3), through laboratory and bench-scale testing (TRL 3-5), and additionally small pilot-scale testing (TRL 4-6), in order to validate the technical and economic feasibility for design, construction, and operation of functional prototype coal-based facilities to produce salable, high purity, REOs. The Feasibility of Recovering Rare Earth Elements program’s key or core technology areas include:
Analytic Characterization of REE-Containing Coal-Based and Process Separated Materials
Separations Technologies - Addressing the viability of utilizing commercially available extraction and separation equipment and/or systems that have been developed for alternate technologies, and demonstrate their capability (i.e., technology transfer) for the extraction and separation of REEs from coal-based materials. In parallel, develop new transformational REE extraction and separation concepts.
Development of Advanced REE Separations Concepts
Process Systems - Design/construct/operate bench-scale and/or small pilot-scale systems to validate the capability of producing REEs from coal-based resources.
Bench-Scale Facility for the Extraction, Separation and Recovery of REEs from Coal-Based Resources
DOE-NETL REE Program Structure
Through its metrics, DOE-NETL’s Feasibility of Recovering Rare Earth Elements program fully supports Congressional directives to continue its external agency activities to develop and test advanced separation technologies, and to accelerate the advancement of commercially viable technologies for the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements and critical minerals from U.S. coal and coal by-product resources.
DOE-NETL REE Program Metrics
In summary, DOE-NETL’s Feasibility of Recovering Rare Earth Elements program is focused on
Prospecting-Field sampling, characterization and identification of ‘best’ materials for obtaining REEs, and their reserves
Processing - REE extraction, separation and recovery projects, as well as demonstration of concept feasibility at bench-scale through pilot-scale integrated process system testing
