Monash University engineers say they have found a better way to strengthen critical minerals and rare earths in Australia through recycling.
A report The university claims that Kolenvliegas (CFA), the powdery waste that comes from the burning of brown coal can be the next best solution to extract critical minerals and rare earth elements (Rees).
“For decades, the coal-fired power stations of Australia have produced millions of tons of this axis, most of which end up dams or landfills … But what if that so-called waste can help feed the technologies of the future-and the pressure on traditional mining?”, The engineers ask.
Coalvalas, in particular the species produced from brown coal in Victoria, was the subject of most experiments, because they do not contain radioactive elements such as Uranium of Thorium.
The engineers call this solution ‘urban mining’, and say that it could feed the green revolution.
What can urban mining do?
According to the engineers, the method they have discovered can reclaim all 17 deers above an efficiency percentage of 90 percent.
They explained that the absence of radioactive elements makes the extraction process ‘inherently safer’ with fewer regulations and more environmentally friendly compared to traditional rare earth extraction.
Very sought after “Magne” rare earths such as Neodymium and Dysprosium, which are used for electric motor and wind turbine memetangs, are included in the products of the extraction.
“To give you an idea of the potential, only from Kolenvliegas, we were able to repair to 45,000 tons of rare earth metal every year,” they wrote.
How does it work?
A previously published study Through Monash University, five materials and methods for extracting deer outlined from coal waste, which is summarized below:
- Sample preparation – Collection of brown coal fly ash (BCFA) and separation in containers.
- Total quantification of metal – sending samples to two external analytical companies that identified basic results for large, small, trace not -Rree metals and deer’s in BCFA.
- Sequential extraction method – a six -step process that reports a more detailed fractionation capacity, which study the actions of REEs in CFA.
- Percolate analysis from the extraction process via ICP-MS, which uses both internal standardization and an additional adjusted multi-element standard method that ensures accurate quantification
- Assessment of Victorian BCFA through a proposed coefficient, which “is the ratio of the sum of all elements that have been critically classified by the US Department of Energy into exaggerated Rees”
How does coal waste continue?
“We have already scaled up our process from a small laboratory setup to a system of 30 liters, and we are now designing a semi-continuous unit of 100 liters, with a demonstration plant planned at Monash University,” the engineers shared. “The technology has already won prizes and we are ready to take the next step.”
The team also said that they collaborate with industry and government partners to market the process and to help clean up legacy waste from coal-fired power generation.
An earlier article published by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSiro) In February 2024, the transformation of coal waste into Rees also investigated and said that it “finally amounts to economics”.
“Stack the dollars to recover the minerals from the residues and overloading or not? If we concentrate in advance, can we reclaim them economically?”
The organization also stated that coal waste, in addition to the successful recovery of mining areas for agriculture, also has potential to recover other minerals, such as clay -based minerals, in the future.
That is more than 71 million tons Van Koormoolas is generated worldwide every year.
Current State of Rees in Australia
Australia currently stands up as an important player in the global rare earths and even in the critical mineral market, after trade tensions between China and the US.
The country has also taken strategic steps in the direction of the independence of rare earths, including investments in projects, policy adjustments and cross -country deals.
In particular, West -Australia is placed on the global map with its important rare earth deposits, supported by support from its local government.
“Urban mining gives Australia the opportunity to lead the world in a clean, native rare earth supply, while it also solve an inheritance discharge problem,” concludes Monash University. “It can create regional jobs, support local production and reduce our dependence on overseas supply chains. It is a rare opportunity.”
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Publication of securities: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, has no direct investment interest in a company mentioned in this article.
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