Rhamnolipid-Based Remediation Technologies for Uranium and Rare Earth Element Contamination

基于鼠李糖脂的铀和稀土元素污染修复技术

基本信息

批准号：
10159265
负责人：
Chett J Boxley
金额：
$ 60万
依托单位：
GLYCOSURF, INC.
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
财政年份：
2020
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2020-05-05 至 2023-04-30
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10159265
关键词：
Address Adsorption Affect Affinity Air Arizona Biological Cells Chinese People Coal Collection Complex Consult Data Department of Energy Development Economics Ecosystem Electronics Ensure Environmental Health Equilibrium Evaluation Excision Fatty Acids Feasibility Studies Glycolipids Goals Health Human Industry International Ions Left Ligands Metals Minerals Mining Modeling Modernization Navajo Outcome Performance Phase Process Production Quality Control Rare Earth Metals Recovery Recycling Research Resources Risk Safety Savings Site Small Business Innovation Research Grant Soil Solid Solvents Source Surface Surveys System Tail Technology Testing Time Universities Update Uranium Water balance recovery base commercialization contaminated water cost cost effective design drinking water economic evaluation efficacy testing experimental study implementation process interest new technology novel operation remediation research and development rhamnolipid scale up surfactant technology development wastewater samples wasting water testing water treatment

项目摘要

Uranium mining in the U.S. Southwest has left thousands of legacy mining sites with uranium-contaminated soils. These soils are polluting adjacent water and land resources that, in turn, pose serious threats to human and environmental health. On the Navajo Nation alone, there are over 500 abandoned uranium mining sites and 12.8% of tested water sources exceed national drinking water standards. Uranium is also a challenge for modern mining operations as it is often present as a contaminant in mineral processing activities targeting other metals. In addition to uranium, rare earth elements (REE) are also often found as contaminants in coal and some hard- rock mining operations. Due to volatile international markets and Chinese domination of market supply, there is interest in developing alternative REE sources domestically due to the importance of REE to consumer electronics, renewable energy technologies, and national defense. Despite expressed need from the mining industry and federal regulators, technology that is both inexpensive and specific to uranium and REE is lacking. Through Phase I research, GlycoSurf has demonstrated two technologies capable of the selective removal of uranium and REE from complex mining solutions. The first is an ion flotation process wherein GlycoSurf’s propriety surfactants complex with target metals in aerated treatment solutions. Metals are separated from the bulk solutions as the metal-surfactant complex attaches to air bubbles rising to the solution surface for collection as a metal-concentrate foam. The second technology is an adsorbent material generated by functionalizing solid media with GlycoSurf’s proprietary surfactants. In this Phase II project, GlycoSurf’s objective is to demonstrate the commercial potential of these technologies for large water treatment applications by: 1) up-scaling reactor size, 2) developing treatment processes for continuous flow operations and testing, and 3) synthesizing more cost-effective glycolipids. With the University of Arizona and Wayne State University as research partners, GlycoSurf will accomplish this project through 4 aims. Currently, ion flotation has successfully been demonstrated in small-volume batch operation. Aim 1 will develop and up-scale a continuous ion flotation process using real-world metalliferous solutions supplied by BHP mining company and the U.S. Department of Energy. Aim 2 will focus on up-scaling production of rhamnolipid-functionalized adsorbent materials and developing a treatment process that will be challenged using real-world mining solutions. The need to reduce materials costs of GlycoSurf surfactants will be the focus of Aim 3. In this aim, GlycoSurf will focus on cost reductions through: 1) streamlining the synthesis process, 2) use of alternate starting materials, and 3) increasing the scale of production to realize economy-of-scale savings. Aim 4 with examine the economic feasibility and commercial potential of technology developments in this Phase II project using a techno-economic approach.

美国西南部的铀矿开采导致数千个遗留矿区土壤受到铀污染。这些土壤正在污染邻近的水和土地资源，进而对人类和生态系统构成严重威胁。仅在纳瓦霍族保留地就有 500 多个废弃的铀矿场。 12.8%的检测水源超过国家饮用水标准。铀也是对现代人的挑战。采矿作业，因为它通常作为针对其他金属的矿物加工活动中的污染物存在。除了铀之外，稀土元素 (REE) 也经常作为煤炭和一些硬质合金中的污染物被发现。由于国际市场波动和中国主导市场供应，岩石开采作业。由于稀土元素对消费者的重要性，有兴趣在国内开发替代稀土元素来源尽管采矿业表达了需求，但电子、可再生能源技术和国防。工业界和联邦监管机构缺乏既便宜又专门针对铀和稀土元素的技术。通过第一阶段研究，GlycoSurf 展示了两种能够选择性去除从复杂的采矿解决方案中提取铀和稀土元素，第一个是离子浮选工艺，因此 GlycoSurf 的工艺是这样的。专有表面活性剂与曝气处理溶液中的目标金属形成络合物，将金属从水中分离出来。金属-表面活性剂复合物附着在气泡上，上升到溶液表面进行收集，形成散装溶液第二种技术是通过功能化固体产生的吸附材料。在此第二阶段项目中，GlycoSurf 的目标是展示含有 GlycoSurf 专有表面活性剂的介质。这些技术在大型水处理应用中的商业潜力通过：1）扩大规模的反应器尺寸，2) 开发连续流操作和测试的处理工艺，以及 3) 综合更多与亚利桑那大学和韦恩州立大学作为研究合作伙伴， GlycoSurf将通过4个目标来完成该项目。目前，离子浮选已成功实现。目标 1 将开发并扩大连续离子浮选的规模。使用必和必拓矿业公司和美国能源部提供的实际含金属解决方案进行流程目标 2 将重点关注鼠李糖脂功能化吸附材料和能源的扩大生产。开发一种处理工艺，使用现实世界的采矿解决方案将面临减少的需要。 GlycoSurf表面活性剂的材料成本将是目标3的重点。在这个目标中，GlycoSurf将重点关注成本通过以下方式减少：1) 简化合成过程，2) 使用替代起始材料，以及 3) 增加生产规模以实现规模经济节约，并审查经济可行性。该二期项目采用技术经济方法进行技术开发的商业潜力。