In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a continuous process for treating acid mine drainage while simultaneously recovering a high-grade rare earth preconcentrate suitable for extraction of commercially valuable rare earth oxides. In a further aspect, the preconcentrate is from about 0.1% to 5% rare earth elements on a dry weight basis. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for processing the preconcentrate to generate a pregnant leach solution that does not form gels or emulsions and is suitable for processing via solvent extraction. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a system and plant for carrying out the disclosed process. In still another aspect, the disclosure relates to a composition containing rare earth elements produced by the process disclosed herein. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a continuous process for treating acid mine drainage while simultaneously recovering a high-grade rare earth preconcentrate suitable for extraction of commercially valuable rare earth oxides. In a further aspect, the preconcentrate is from about 0.1% to 5% rare earth elements on a dry weight basis. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for processing the preconcentrate to generate a pregnant leach solution that does not form gels or emulsions and is suitable for processing via solvent extraction. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a system and plant for carrying out the disclosed process. In still another aspect, the disclosure relates to a composition containing rare earth elements produced by the process disclosed herein. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

The present invention relates to an autocatalytic reductive chemical procedure with solid-solid interaction in conditions of supersaturation of salts, via the phenomenon of efflorescence in order to dissolve a copper metal, from a metallogenically primary ore or chalcopyrite concentrate that contains same. The method comprises two steps, referred to as Reductive Activation Step and Dry Autocatalytic Reductive Transformation Step or efflorescence, which can be repeated as many times as necessary to maximise the extraction of copper or base metal of interest. The invention can also be used for sulphurised base metals such as nickel, zinc, cobalt, lead and molybdenum, among others, regardless of the common impurities of sulphurised ores, as occurs with the presence of arsenic.

The present invention relates to an autocatalytic reductive chemical procedure with solid-solid interaction in conditions of supersaturation of salts, via the phenomenon of efflorescence in order to dissolve a copper metal, from a metallogenically primary ore or chalcopyrite concentrate that contains same. The method comprises two steps, referred to as Reductive Activation Step and Dry Autocatalytic Reductive Transformation Step or efflorescence, which can be repeated as many times as necessary to maximise the extraction of copper or base metal of interest. The invention can also be used for sulphurised base metals such as nickel, zinc, cobalt, lead and molybdenum, among others, regardless of the common impurities of sulphurised ores, as occurs with the presence of arsenic.

A method for improved processing of lithium metallurgical solutions comprises the steps of: i. Directing a lithium leach solution containing magnesium to an electrochemical magnesium removal step to form a magnesium depleted lithium leach solution; ii. Directing the magnesium depleted lithium leach solution of step i) to downstream concentration and recovery processes wherein the electrochemical magnesium removal step is a 3-chamber electrochemical configuration to produce magnesium hydroxide precipitate and a separate hydrochloric acid stream, as recoverable by-products.

A method for improved processing of lithium metallurgical solutions comprises the steps of: i. Directing a lithium leach solution containing magnesium to an electrochemical magnesium removal step to form a magnesium depleted lithium leach solution; ii. Directing the magnesium depleted lithium leach solution of step i) to downstream concentration and recovery processes wherein the electrochemical magnesium removal step is a 3-chamber electrochemical configuration to produce magnesium hydroxide precipitate and a separate hydrochloric acid stream, as recoverable by-products.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a continuous process for treating acid mine drainage while simultaneously recovering a high-grade rare earth preconcentrate suitable for extraction of commercially valuable rare earth oxides. In a further aspect, the preconcentrate is from about 0.1% to 5% rare earth elements on a dry weight basis. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for processing the preconcentrate to generate a pregnant leach solution that does not form gels or emulsions and is suitable for processing via solvent extraction. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a system and plant for carrying out the disclosed process. In still another aspect, the disclosure relates to a composition containing rare earth elements produced by the process disclosed herein. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a continuous process for treating acid mine drainage while simultaneously recovering a high-grade rare earth preconcentrate suitable for extraction of commercially valuable rare earth oxides. In a further aspect, the preconcentrate is from about 0.1% to 5% rare earth elements on a dry weight basis. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for processing the preconcentrate to generate a pregnant leach solution that does not form gels or emulsions and is suitable for processing via solvent extraction. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a system and plant for carrying out the disclosed process. In still another aspect, the disclosure relates to a composition containing rare earth elements produced by the process disclosed herein. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a continuous process for treating acid mine drainage while simultaneously recovering a high-grade rare earth preconcentrate suitable for extraction of commercially valuable rare earth oxides. In a further aspect, the preconcentrate is from about 0.1% to 5% rare earth elements on a dry weight basis. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for processing the preconcentrate to generate a pregnant leach solution that does not form gels or emulsions and is suitable for processing via solvent extraction. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a system and plant for carrying out the disclosed process. In still another aspect, the disclosure relates to a composition containing rare earth elements produced by the process disclosed herein. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a continuous process for treating acid mine drainage while simultaneously recovering a high-grade rare earth preconcentrate suitable for extraction of commercially valuable rare earth oxides. In a further aspect, the preconcentrate is from about 0.1% to 5% rare earth elements on a dry weight basis. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for processing the preconcentrate to generate a pregnant leach solution that does not form gels or emulsions and is suitable for processing via solvent extraction. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a system and plant for carrying out the disclosed process. In still another aspect, the disclosure relates to a composition containing rare earth elements produced by the process disclosed herein. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.