The Behaviour of Rare Earth Elements from South African Coal Fly Ash during Enrichment Processes: Wet, Magnetic Separation and Zeolitisation

Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential raw materials in a variety of industries including clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles and wind turbines. This places an ever-increasing demand on global rare element production. Coal fly ash (CFA) possesses appreciable levels REEs. CFA, waste by-product coal combustion, is therefore readily available source REEs that does not require mining. CFA valorisation to zeolites has been achieved via various synthesis pathways. study aimed evaluate one pathway by monitoring how partition during processing the wet, magnetic separation process zeolitisation. South African was subjected subsequent zeolitisation nonmagnetic fraction (NMF); solid products were characterised XRD, SEM, XRF LA-ICP-MS. The resulted partitioning specific set transition metals (such Fe, Mn, Cr, V, Ni, Zn, Cu, Co Mo) into (MF) while partitioned NMF with total REE content 530.2 ppm; thus, matrix extracted ease. Zeolitisation zeolite product (hydroxysodalite) 537.6 ppm. also selective enrichment Ce (259.1 ppm) (hydroxysodalite), other largely liquid phase. allowed for extraction recovering Si Al. findings this highlight geopolitical importance terms development alternative processes recovery from sources, which may potentially give countries employ develop technology key advantage production market.