Techno-economic Assessment for Integrating Biosorption into Rare Earth Recovery Process

Abstract

The current uncertainty in the global supply of rare earth elements (REEs) necessitates the development of novel extraction technologies that utilize a variety of REE source materials. Herein, we examined the techno-economic performance of integrating a biosorption approach into a large-scale process for producing salable total rare earth oxides (TREOs) from various feedstocks. An airlift bioreactor is proposed to carry out a biosorption process mediated by bioengineered rare earth-adsorbing bacteria. Techno-economic assessments were compared for three distinctive categories of REE feedstocks requiring different pre-processing steps. Key parameters identified that affect profitability include REE concentration, composition of the feedstock, and costs of feedstock pretreatment and waste management. Among the 11 specific feedstocks investigated, coal ash from the Appalachian Basin was projected to be the most profitable, largely due to its high-value REE content. Its cost breakdown includes pre-processing (leaching primarily, 77.1%), biosorption (19.4%), and oxalic acid precipitation and TREO roasting (3.5%). Surprisingly, biosorption from the high-grade Bull Hill REE ore is less profitable due to high material cost and low production revenue. Overall, our results confirmed that the application of biosorption to low-grade feedstocks for REE recovery is economically viable.

Sustainable Recycling of Rare-Earth Elements from NdFeB Magnet Swarf: Techno-Economic and Environmental Perspectives

“…However, many countries are now facing REE supply uncertainties due to the near monopolistic supply from China (e.g., ∼95% of rare-earth oxide (REO) production). − Moreover, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has created a global supply and demand imbalance for REE compounds, highlighting the importance of source diversification . This supply disruption has exposed the United States and other countries vulnerable to rare-earth resources and motivated them to delve into other means of extracting the critical materials from a variety of REE-containing materials. − …”

Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Geothermal Fluids through Bacterial Cell Surface Adsorption

“…19 Although they have relatively low REE concentrations, geofluids are abundant and have the advantage of requiring minimal pretreatment prior to REE extraction, unlike solid feedstocks such as ores and ion adsorption clays, for which chemical leaching is generally required. 19,25,31 Herein, we systematically examined the effects of TDS, competing metals, pH, and temperature on REE adsorption efficiency and selectivity. Results define the geochemical conditions that are amenable to REE biosorption, information that is key to the future development of a high-performance biosorption technology for REE recovery from geofluids.…”

Making Waves: Biocatalysis and Biosorption: Opportunities and Challenges Associated with a New Protein-Based Toolbox for Water and Wastewater Treatment

“…To our knowledge, robust TEA and LCA analyses for contaminant removal and/or recovery from water or wastewater using cell-free, protein-based biosorbents have not been conducted. However, two TEAs focused on the use of intact bacterial cells for sorption and recovery of rare earth elements from industrial byproducts identified specific applications that were economically viable ( Alipanah et al., 2020 ; Jin et al., 2017 ). Both studies incorporated immobilization and reuse of the whole-cell biosorbents, which was critical for economic and environmental performance.…”

“…Both studies incorporated immobilization and reuse of the whole-cell biosorbents, which was critical for economic and environmental performance. Considering stability and matrix complexity, the surface-expressed peptide tags on these cells were active in a range of complex matrices, including acid leachate and geothermal brine ( Jin et al., 2017 ).…”