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Process Data set: Rare Earth Elements (REE) leachate production;Rare Earth Elements (REE);Solvent extraction;Rare earth chloride aqueous solution (en) en zh

Key Data Set Information
Location NMG-CN
Geographical representativeness description Bayan Obo (China)
Reference year 2014
Name
Rare Earth Elements (REE) leachate production;Rare Earth Elements (REE);Solvent extraction;Rare earth chloride aqueous solution
Use advice for data set Users of this dataset should account for the technological specificity of the solvent extraction process when applying this data to LCA models, considering the various separation stages required for achieving the desired purity levels of individual REEs. Special attention should be given to the inclusion or exclusion of impacts associated with the co-extraction of radioactive elements like thorium and uranium. Additional methodological considerations must include the potential need for supplemental extraction steps to isolate each REE and meet high purity specifications, which can affect the overall environmental impact assessment.
Technical purpose of product or process The separated rare earth elements (REE) obtained through solvent extraction processes are critical for various high-tech applications, including the production of magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles, battery alloys, electronics, optical equipment, and catalysts. The final products, individual rare earth carbonates, are integral to the manufacturing of specialized components where high purity REE are required due to their unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties.
Classification
Class name : Hierarchy level
  • ILCD: Unit processes / Materials production / Inorganic chemicals
General comment on data set The separated rare earth elements (REE) obtained through solvent extraction processes are critical for various high-tech applications, including the production of magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles, battery alloys, electronics, optical equipment, and catalysts. The final products, individual rare earth carbonates, are integral to the manufacturing of specialized components where high purity REE are required due to their unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties.
Copyright No
Owner of data set
Quantitative reference
Reference flow(s)
Functional Unit One ton of rare earth chloride aqueous solution processed at a solvent extraction facility in China to produce individual rare earth carbonates was defined as the functional unit.
Technological representativeness
Technology description including background system After the leaching step, using solvent extraction processes, the metal ion solution is separated into heavy, medium, and light rare earth ions. In addition, due to the ability to handle larger volumes of dilute pregnant solutions in industrial scale, solvent extraction has become the common practice to separate individual rare earth ions. It is worth mentioning that since the separation techniques are according to the variation in the potential of complex formation between the extractants (organic solvents) and the rare earth ions, the separation of neighboring rare earth ions by applying traditional solvent extraction approaches is laborious. Moreover, the presence of significant amount of radioactive elements such as thorium and to a marginal level uranium in primary REE resources and co-extraction of these elements make the REE production process more challenging. Additional solvent extraction steps are also mandatory to produce solutions of individual rare earths with purity higher than 99%
Flow diagram(s) or picture(s)
  • UFIvbPeEpoZGDkxE6bEc39iDnAc.png Image
LCI method and allocation
Type of data set LCI result
LCI Method Principle Attributional
Deviation from LCI method principle / explanations None
Deviation from modelling constants / explanations None
Data sources, treatment and representativeness
Deviation from data cut-off and completeness principles / explanations None
Deviation from data selection and combination principles / explanations None
Deviation from data treatment and extrapolations principles / explanations None
Data source(s) used for this data set
Completeness
Completeness of product model No statement
Validation
Type of review
Dependent internal review
Reviewer name and institution
Data generator
Data set generator / modeller
Data entry by
Time stamp (last saved) 2024-04-19T20:26:42+08:00
Publication and ownership
UUID 41e1df7e-f4c8-4358-92ed-677ff35c33de
Date of last revision 2024-04-20T15:07:20.901946+08:00
Data set version 00.01.005
Permanent data set URI https://lcadata.tiangong.world/showProcess.xhtml?uuid=41e1df7e-f4c8-4358-92ed-677ff35c33de&version=01.00.000&stock=TianGong
Owner of data set
Copyright No
License type Free of charge for all users and uses

Inputs

Type of flow Classification Flow Location Mean amount Resulting amount Minimum amount Maximum amount
Product flow
Emissions / Metal and semimetal elements and ions 41.86 m341.86 m3
General comment Barium chloride
Product flow Energy carriers and technologies / Electricity 1700.0 MJ1700.0 MJ
Elementary flow Emissions / Emissions to air / Emissions to air, unspecified 851.6 kg851.6 kg
Product flow
Materials production / Inorganic chemicals 2317.0 kg2317.0 kg
General comment Hydrochloric acid
Product flow
Materials production / Inorganic chemicals 766.0 kg766.0 kg
General comment Ammonium bicarbonate
Product flow Materials production / Other mineralic materials 29690.0 kg29690.0 kg
Product flow
Materials production / Inorganic chemicals 511.0 kg511.0 kg
General comment Soda ash
Product flow
Materials production / Organic chemicals 18.6 kg18.6 kg
General comment Sulfonated kerosene
Product flow
Wastes / Radioactive waste 0.325 kg0.325 kg
General comment Alamine 336
Product flow
Materials production / Organic chemicals 0.232 kg0.232 kg
General comment Naphthenic acid
Product flow
Materials production / Organic chemicals 8.14 kg8.14 kg
General comment P204
Product flow
Materials production / Organic chemicals 0.232 kg0.232 kg
General comment 2-Ethylhexanol
Product flow
Materials production / Other mineralic materials 15.47 kg15.47 kg
General comment Water, well, in ground

Outputs

Type of flow Classification Flow Location Mean amount Resulting amount Minimum amount Maximum amount
Product flow
Materials production / Inorganic chemicals 273.0 kg273.0 kg
General comment Cerium carbonate
Product flow
Materials production / Organic chemicals 147.0 kg147.0 kg
General comment Lanthanum carbonate
Product flow
Materials production / Organic chemicals 27.0 kg27.0 kg
General comment Praseodymium carbonate
Product flow
Materials production / Organic chemicals 87.0 kg87.0 kg
General comment Neodymium carbonate
Elementary flow
Resources / Resources from ground / Non-renewable element resources from ground 11.0 kg11.0 kg
General comment Samarium, Europium, Gadolinium chloride
Product flow Wastes / Radioactive waste 0.0017 kg0.0017 kg
Waste flow Wastes / Production residues 7.58 kg7.58 kg
Elementary flow Emissions / Emissions to water / Emissions to water, unspecified 0.272 kg0.272 kg
0.163 0.163
General comment Biochemical Oxygen Demand5
Elementary flow Emissions / Emissions to water / Emissions to water, unspecified 0.0974 kg0.0974 kg
Elementary flow Emissions / Emissions to water / Emissions to fresh water 0.0225 kg0.0225 kg
Elementary flow
Emissions / Emissions to air / Emissions to air, unspecified 1612.1 kg1612.1 kg
General comment 原文未区分bio和fossil,根据专家判断此处为fossil
Elementary flow Emissions / Emissions to air / Emissions to air, unspecified 11.68 kg11.68 kg
Elementary flow Emissions / Emissions to air / Emissions to air, unspecified (long-term) 7.6 kg7.6 kg
Product flow
Emissions / Metal and semimetal elements and ions 5.24 kg5.24 kg
General comment Nitrogen oxide
Product flow Materials production / Metals and semimetals 1000.0 kg1000.0 kg