EAGER-SUSCHEM: Rare Earth Elements Recovery from Geothermal Waters Using Novel Electrodialysis Metathesis Process

EAGER-SUSCHEM：利用新型电渗析复分解工艺从地热水中回收稀土元素

• 批准号: 1632146
• 负责人: Lucy Mar Camacho
• 金额: $ 7万
• 依托单位: Texas A&M University-Kingsville
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-01-15 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1632146&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EAGER; SUSCHEM; Rare; Earth; Elements

1632146CamachoRare earth elements are composed of the fifteen lanthanide elements plus scandium and yttrium. These elements are considered energy-critical elements, whose shortage could significantly inhibit large-scale deployment of energy-related technologies that have the potential of transforming the production, transmission, storage, and conservation of energy, such as photovoltaic solar cells, wind turbines, and hybrid automobiles. Geothermal waters are potentially significant sources of rare earth elements; however, utilization of geothermal fluids for electricity generation seldom focuses on the recovery of rare earth elements. In this research project, a novel electrochemical membrane process, electrodialysis metathesis, will be investigated for the first time to separate and recover high purity rare earth elements from geothermal waters with minimal consumption of chemicals.The goal of this 18-month project is to advance the fundamental knowledge of recovery of rare earth elements from geothermal waters using electrodialysis metathesis process. The research objectives are to determine: 1) the metathesis reactions and selectivity of rare earth elements in the electrodialysis metathesis process, and, 2) the mass transport mechanisms and kinetic of rare earth elements in the electrodialysis metathesis process. Metathesis, or double decomposition, reaction of ions passing through alternating ion-exchange membranes and applied current has been applied to separate ions commonly found in brackish water (i.e. calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, sulfate and chloride), but has not yet been applied to concentrate and recover rare earth elements. The intellectual merit of this research project is to study, for the first time, the possibility of applying electrodialysis metathesis to concentrate and extract rare earth elements from geothermal fluids, particularly from geothermal wells and power plant brines. This will contribute to save rare earth elements resources which are considered energy-critical elements and will also protect the environment. If successful, the development of this process will provide an alternative source of rare earth elements in the US. The long-term education goal is to train future generations of Hispanic STEM researchers on cutting-edge technologies for rare earth elements and minerals recovery and reuse. The educational objectives are to: 1) provide STEM students advanced skills on membrane process, and, 2) promote STEM knowledge and engineering literary enrichment about energy-strategic materials on K-12 Hispanic students. The PI will create a membrane separation laboratory research module on minerals and energy-critical elements for the undergraduate and graduate Environmental Engineering laboratory classes. They will also create an interactive tool on energy-critical elements for K-12 Hispanic students.

1632146 Camachorare Earth元素由15个灯笼元素以及scandium and yttrium组成。这些元素被认为是临界元素，其短缺可能会显着抑制能源相关技术的大规模部署，这些技术有可能改变能源的生产，传播，存储和保存，例如光伏太阳能电池，风力涡轮机和杂种汽车。地热水是稀土元素的潜在重要来源。但是，地热流体的利用很少集中于稀土元素的恢复。在该研究项目中，将首次研究一个新型的电化膜过程，即电透析元的元理解，以分离和恢复高纯度稀土元素与地热水域的高度消耗。该18个月项目的目标最少，是为了促进使用地热水平的稀有地球元素恢复的基本知识。研究目的是确定：1​​）在电透析化学过程中，稀土元素的分解反应和选择性，以及2）在电透析元理学过程中稀有地球元素的质量传输机制和动力学。通过交替的离子交换膜和施加电流的离子的反应或双重分解的反应已应用于在咸水中常见的离子（即钙，钠，钠，镁，钾，硫酸盐，硫酸盐和氯化物），但尚未应用于浓缩和恢复稀土元素。该研究项目的智力优点是首次使用电透析元学浓缩和从地热液中提取稀土元素的可能性，尤其是从地热井和发电厂的盐水中提取稀土元素。这将有助于节省被视为关键能源要素的稀土元素资源，也将保护环境。如果成功，此过程的发展将为美国提供稀土元素的替代来源。长期的教育目标是培训子孙后代的西班牙裔STEM研究人员有关稀土元素和矿物质恢复和再利用的尖端技术。教育目标是：1）为STEM学生提供有关膜过程的高级技能，以及2）促进有关K-12西班牙裔学生的能量战略材料的STEM知识和工程文学丰富。 PI将针对本科和研究生环境工程实验室类别创建一个膜分离实验室研究模块。他们还将为K-12西班牙裔学生创建一个互动工具。