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A SUSTAINABLE EXTRACTION STRATEGY FOR SEPARATING HEAVY RARE EARTHS
EXTRACTED FROM ION-ADSORBED DEPOSIT
Xiaoqi SUN
Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute
Chínese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
Rare earth elements (REEs) have a series of specific properties making them essential in lighting,
electronics and magnetic applications. The unique elements have been used in many commercial products,
for example, turbines, electric vehicles, batteries, lighting, computers, cell phones and lasers. Heavy REEs
are attracting the interests of scientists from many countries, and these elements have become critical to
develop high-tech materials.
Ion-adsorbed rare earth deposits were first discovered in China. They are also called weathering crust
elution-deposited rare earth deposits. This particular type of deposit is distributed throughout southern
China. The ion-adsorbed deposits are rich in medium and heavy REEs, accounting for more than 80% of
the world’s total medium and heavy REE production.
The separation of heavy REEs extracted from ion-adsorbed deposits is difficult owing to their similar
chemical properties. The conventional separating technologies cause serious pollution. A novel separation
strategy has been developed in this laboratory and herein the author will report the latest advances.
KEYWORDS
Ionic clay rare earth deposits, REE, medium and heavy rare earths, separation technology