Phalaborwa large-scale pilot plant performing as expected and producing a commercial mixed REE product
Published by Jody Dodgson,
Editorial Assistant
Global Mining Review,
As previously announced, the mixed rare earth product produced by the primary flowsheet is higher-grade than the industry norm, being ca. 55% TREO, versus the Chinese specifications for a mixed rare earth carbonate at ca. 42 to 44% TREO.
The production of this high-grade product has been confirmed as an ideal feed stream into the planned solvent extraction (“SX”) separation circuit in order to produce NdPr oxide and a SEG+ product that is rich in medium and heavy REE, each at +99.5% purity. By delivering these separated products, Rainbow intends to capture more of the value chain by going further downstream than many REE projects.
George Bennett, CEO, commented: “This is an important de-risking event for the project, as the large-scale pilot plant is performing as expected and will now produce increasing quantities of the high-grade mixed REE hydroxide. The high purity of this product positions it as an ideal feed stream for the planned SX separation process in order to produce the NdPr oxide and SEG+ products of the desired +99.5% purity.”
Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/10022026/phalaborwa-large-scale-pilot-plant-performing-as-expected-and-producing-a-commercial-mixed-ree-product/