Enhanced Leachability of a Lean Weathered Crust Elution-Deposited Rare-Earth Ore: Effects of Sesbania Gum Filter-Aid Reagent

The enhanced leachability of rare-earth ore from the lean weathered crust elution-deposited rare-earth ores with ammonium sulfate solution as lixiviant and sesbania gum as a filter-aid reagent was elucidated and optimized with chromatographic plate theory. The effects of the flow rate, the concentration of lixiviant, the sesbania gum filter-aid reagent, and the lixiviant consumption on the leaching process were examined with column elution. The results show that the sesbania gum has a positive effect on the leaching process; the relationship between the height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) and the leaching flow rate can be described by the van Deemter equation. There is an optimum flow rate in the leaching process. The optimum concentration of the sesbania gum in lixiviant was discovered. Moreover, sesbania gum added in lixiviant also reduces lixiviant consumption and promotes the optimum leaching flow rate. It provides a new approach to leaching the lean weathered crust elution-deposited rare-earth ores with high efficiency and low reagent consumption. The approach also can reduce the NH4 (+)-N pollution. (C) The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International 2013