Processes for making lightweight armor, hardened casts, hardened parts, nonstructural reinforced hardened casts, structural shrapnel-resistant blocks, attachable hardened surfaces, and for hardening surfaces utilize rare earth material nanoparticles including metal anhydride nanoparticles that are refined under supercritical conditions.

The invention includes apparatus and methods for instantiating rare earth metals in a nanoporous carbon powder.

The invention includes apparatus and methods for instantiating rare earth metals in a nanoporous carbon powder.

Provided herein are phosphors of the general molecular formula:

(A.sub.2-2xEu.sub.x(Mg.sub.1-yCa.sub.y)PO.sub.4F

wherein the variables are as defined herein. Methods of producing the phosphors are also provided. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides light-emitting devices comprising these phosphors.

Provided herein are phosphors of the general molecular formula:

(A.sub.2-2xEu.sub.x(Mg.sub.1-yCa.sub.y)PO.sub.4F

wherein the variables are as defined herein. Methods of producing the phosphors are also provided. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides light-emitting devices comprising these phosphors.

A method for preparing carbon-functionalized praseodymium oxide includes the following steps: dissolving Pr(NO.sub.3).sub.3.6H.sub.2O in an acid dye solution and stirring to form a mixed solution; adding NH.sub.3H.sub.2O dropwise in the mixed solution while stirring to adjust a pH value of the mixed solution, thereby forming a suspension, and then aging the suspension for 2 to 4 hours; filtering, washing with water, washing with alcohol, and drying the aged suspension to obtain a carbon-functionalized Pr.sub.6O.sub.11 precursor; and placing the carbon-functional zed Pr.sub.6O.sub.11 precursor in a tube furnace under a protection of nitrogen, heating the carbon-functionalized Pr.sub.6O.sub.11 precursor to a sintering temperature at a heating rate of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius/min, keeping at the sintering temperature for 3 to 4 hours, and then cooling to room temperature, thereby obtaining the carbon-functionalized. Pr.sub.6O.sub.11.

A method for recovering rare earth elements (REE) from a leach solution. The method includes determining the concentration of a first plurality of contaminates in the leach solution, adding a first amount of oxalic acid to the leach solution and allowing it to react for a first period of time to form a first precipitant and a first liquor, maintaining the pH of the first liquor between 1.5 and 3 by the addition of an alkali base, removing the first precipitant, adding a second amount of oxalic acid to the first liquor and allowing it to react for a second period of time to form a second precipitant and a second liquor, maintaining the pH of the second liquor between 1.5 and 3 by the addition of the alkali base, and removing the second precipitant.

A method for recovering rare earth elements (REE) from a leach solution. The method includes determining the concentration of a first plurality of contaminates in the leach solution, adding a first amount of oxalic acid to the leach solution and allowing it to react for a first period of time to form a first precipitant and a first liquor, maintaining the pH of the first liquor between 1.5 and 3 by the addition of an alkali base, removing the first precipitant, adding a second amount of oxalic acid to the first liquor and allowing it to react for a second period of time to form a second precipitant and a second liquor, maintaining the pH of the second liquor between 1.5 and 3 by the addition of the alkali base, and removing the second precipitant.

A rare earth metal extracting bacterial consortium can include an acid secreting bacterium, a heavy metal resistant bacterium, an iron-sequestering molecule secreting bacterium, and a rare earth metal sequestering bacterium. In another example, a composition can include a growth medium and a bacterial consortium growing in the growth medium. The growth medium can include water, magnesium sulfate, manganese chloride, cobalt chloride, calcium chloride, ammonium sulfate, soluble starch, and amino acids. The bacterial consortium can include an acid secreting bacterium, a heavy metal resistant bacterium, an iron-sequestering molecule secreting bacterium, and a rare earth metal sequestering bacterium.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for obtaining rare earth elements from coal-based resources. Advantages of this process include low energy demands, application of environmentally-friendly solvents, and high purities of obtained rare earth elements.