Rare Earth-Containing Waste Generated in Production and its Environmental Impact Analysis — Based on the Findings of Baotou Region, Inner Mongolia

Abstract

The article is based on the survey of rare earth enterprises in Baotou region, Inner Mongolia, analyzes the sorts of rare earth-containing waste produced in rare earth production and their environmental impact. The main sorts of rare earth-containing waste include: low-grade ore generated in the mining sector, tailings from mineral concentrating; water-soaked residue generated in smelting and separating sectors, and solid waste from functional material producing sectors. The low-grade ore has a certain degree of radioactivity, if the economic and technological conditions allowed it also can be used to produce rare-earth. Tailings from mineral concentrating, in addition to radioactivity, it also produces environment pollution to atmosphere, soil and water. However, these tailings are not waste, but the second rare earth mine. Water-soaked residue is radioactive hazardous waste, now stored in line with disposal regulations. Solid wastes from functional materials producing have been recycled and have less impact on the environment.

Review and new life cycle assessment for rare earth production from bastnäsite, ion adsorption clays and lateritic monazite

“…In many regions where REE processing occurs the environment has suffered from contamination through insufficient waste management, notably radioactive contamination caused by thorium and its daughter radionuclides (Li et al 2012) (Wu et al 2011 Therefore, it is not the best solution to use these reports for emission values as in Lee and Wen (2017).…”

Multiple Tuned CNTs by Rare Earth Oxides for High Efficiency Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

“…On the contrary, light rare earth materials are often discarded in large quantities as accessories. It will cause environmental pollution and resource waste [23]. Applying light rare earth materials effectively solve this problem.…”