ORIGINAL PAPER
A new process for high-efficiency rare earth enrichment in Baiyun Ebo metal ores: a synergistic optimization study of open-circuit flotation, closed-circuit flotation of the middle ore and magnetic separation
1
University of Science and Technology Beijing
2
Zhongye Changtian International Engineering Co., Ltd.
Submission date: 2025-07-06
Final revision date: 2025-10-19
Acceptance date: 2025-11-28
Publication date: 2026-09-28
Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi – Mineral Resources Management 2026;42(3):5-46
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
To address the low utilization rate of rare earth resources in the Bayan Obo mining area of Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China, a systematic experimental study was conducted using a novel combined process of “open-circuit flotation – closed-circuit flotation of middlings – magnetic separation”. The mechanism of depressant BY5 on mineral surfaces was investigated through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV) spectrophotometric adsorption capacity tests. The results demonstrate that under the conditions of grinding fineness 95% passing 74 μm, flotation temperature 65°C, pulp concentration 45%, and pulp pH 9, using BY5 as depressant, BQ2 as collector, and terpineol as frother, an open-circuit flotation concentrate with a grade of 62.07% and recovery of 43.80% was obtained through “one roughing, one scavenging, and four cleaning” stages. For the rare earth middlings, with grinding fineness 95% passing 38 μm and optimized reagent dosage, subsequent “one roughing and four cleaning” flotation tests followed by “one roughing and one scavenging” magnetic separation tests yielded an open-circuit magnetic separation concentrate with a grade of 58.07% and operational recovery of 85.74%. The combined concentrates showed an overall yield of 10.62%, a grade of 61.09%, and a recovery of 57.15%. Depressant BY5 exhibits non-chemical adsorption on bastnaesite surfaces, while collector BQ2 undergoes chemical adsorption. BY5 competes with BQ2 for adsorption sites on fluorite and barite surfaces, thereby hindering BQ2 adsorption on these gangue minerals and achieving effective separation of bastnaesite from fluorite and barite.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Nowy proces wysokowydajnego wzbogacania pierwiastków ziem rzadkich w rudach metali z Baiyun Ebo: badanie optymalizacji synergicznej flotacji w obiegu otwartym, flotacji w obiegu zamkniętym rudy średniej oraz separacji magnetycznej
rudy metali ziem rzadkich, mineralogia procesowa, bastnazyt, mechanizm adsorpcji
W celu rozwiązania problemu niskiego stopnia wykorzystania zasobów pierwiastków ziem rzadkich w rejonie górniczym Bayan Obo w Baotou w Mongolii Wewnętrznej w Chinach przeprowadzono systematyczne badania eksperymentalne z wykorzystaniem nowatorskiego, połączonego procesu obejmującego „flotację w obiegu otwartym – flotację frakcji pośredniej w obiegu zamkniętym – separację magnetyczną”. Mechanizm działania środka obniżającego BY5 na powierzchniach minerałów zbadano za pomocą analizy spektroskopii w podczerwieni z transformacją Fouriera (FTIR) oraz spektrofotometrycznych testów zdolności adsorpcyjnej w zakresie ultrafioletu i światła widzialnego (UV). Wyniki pokazują, że w warunkach rozdrobnienia 95% frakcji poniżej 74 μm, temperatury flotacji 65°C, stężenia zawiesiny 45% i pH zawiesiny 9, przy zastosowaniu BY5 jako środka obniżającego, BQ2 jako środka zbierającego oraz terpineolu jako środka spieniającego, w wyniku „jednego etapu zgrubnego, jednego etapu oczyszczającego i czterech etapów czyszczących” uzyskano koncentrat flotacyjny w obiegu otwartym o zawartości 62,07% i odzysku 43,80%. W przypadku frakcji pośredniej metali ziem rzadkich, przy stopniu rozdrobnienia 95% przechodzącym przez sito 38 μm i zoptymalizowanym dawkowaniu odczynników, kolejne testy flotacyjne „jedno zgrubne i cztery oczyszczające”, a następnie testy oddzielania magnetycznego „jedno zgrubne i jedno oczyszczające” dały koncentrat z oddzielania magnetycznego w obiegu otwartym o zawartości 58,07% i wydajności operacyjnej 85,74%. Łącznie koncentraty wykazały ogólną wydajność 10,62%, zawartość 61,09% i odzysk 57,15%. Środek obniżający BY5 wykazuje adsorpcję nie chemiczną na powierzchniach bastnazytu, podczas gdy środek zbierający BQ2 ulega adsorpcji chemicznej. BY5 konkuruje z BQ2 o miejsca adsorpcyjne na powierzchniach fluorytu i barytu, utrudniając w ten sposób adsorpcję BQ2 na tych minerałach skały płonnej i umożliwiając skuteczne oddzielenie bastnazytu od fluorytu i barytu.
REFERENCES (26)
1.
Chen et al. 2013 – Chen, Y., Song, Y., Wen, J., et al. 2013. Beneficiation of a Complex Niobium Ore Containing Rare Earths and Zirconium. Chinese Journal of Rare Metals 37(3), pp. 429–436.
2.
Deng et al. 2024. – Deng, M., Gao, H., Liu, J. et al. 2024. Biological Functions of Rare Earth Elements and Their Applications in Animal Production. Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition 36(2), pp. 789–797.
3.
Dutta et al. 2016 – Dutta, T., Kim, K.H., Uchimiya, M., Kwon, E.E., Jeon, B.H., Deep, A. and Yun, S.T. 2016. Global demand for rare earth resources and strategies for green mining. Environmental Research 150, pp. 182–190, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envr....
4.
Fan et al. 2020 – Fan, H., Niu, H., Wang, Q., Yang, Z., Li, X. and Yang, K. 2020. The types, ore genesis and resource perspective of endogenic REE deposits in China. Chinese Science Bulletin 65(33), pp. 3778–3793, https://doi.org/10.1360/TB-202....
5.
Goldschmidt, J.C. and Fischer, S. 2015. Upconversion for Photovoltaics – a Review of Materials, Devices and Concepts for Performance Enhancement. Advanced optical materials 3(4), pp. 510–535, https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.2....
6.
He et al. 2016 – He, X., Rao, J., Luo, C., et al. 2016. Flotation Mechanism of Modified Alkyl Hydroximic Acid on Bastnaesite. Journal of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths 34(2), pp. 244–251.
7.
Hu et al. 2025 – Hu, A., Liang, F., Luo, X.,Wang, Y., Qiao, Z., He, X. and Shen, A. 2025. Development and applications of new techniques for tests of trace elements and rare earth elements in carbonate minerals. Oil & Gas Geology 46(2), pp. 365–376, https://doi.org/10.11743/ogg20....
8.
Kanazawa, Y. and Kamitani, M. 2006. Rare earth minerals and resources in the world. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 408–412, pp. 1339–1343, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jall....
9.
Li et al. 2002 – Li, F., Zeng, X. and Zhu, Y. 2002. Application of Collector L102in Changlan Rare Earth Dressing Plant. Chinese Rare Earths 6, pp. 1–5.
10.
Liu et al. 2016 – Liu, M., Liu, Y., Li, X., et al. 2016. Beneficiation Test Research of a Complex Rare Metal Associated Ore. Nonferrous Metals (Mineral Processing Section) 6, pp. 60–64.
11.
Qiu et al. 2015 – Qiu, X., Lu, Z., Cheng, Q., et al. 2015. Beneficiation Technology of a Rare Earth Ore in Sichuan. Nonferrous Metals Engineering 5(5), pp. 46–49.
12.
U.S. Geological Survey. Statistics and information on the worldwide supply of, demand for, and flow of the mineral commodity group rare earths-scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides. Rare Earths Statistics and Information | U.S. Geological Survey [Online:] https://www.usgs.gov/.
13.
Wang et al. 2013 – Wang, J., Cao, Z., Li, J., et al. 2013. Optimization of Floatation Reagents for Rare Earth Ore in Dressing Plant of Bayan Obo Rare Earth Ore. Metal Mine 11, pp. 74–76.
14.
Wang et al. 2017 – Wang, C., Hu, Z., Qiu, X., et al. 2017. Experimental Study on a Novel Combined Beneficiation Technique for Bastnaesite Type RE Ore Using Magnetic-Gravity-Flotation Separation. Chinese Journal of Rare Metals 41(10), pp. 1151–1158.
15.
Wang et al. 2023 – Wang, L.,Wang, C., Li, L. and Yang, Y.M. 2023. Readsorption of rare earth elements during leaching process of ion-adsorption-type rare earth ore. Rare Metals 42(06), pp. 2113–2120, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598....
16.
Wu et al. 2023 – Wu, W., Han, J. and Fang Y. 2023. Current situation analysis and development strategy of rare earth industry. Powder Metallurgy Industry 33(6), pp. 133–139.
17.
Xingyi et al. 2003 – Xingyi, W., Ying, W. and Guanzhong, L. 2003. Effect of Lanthanum on Methanol Fuel Exhaust Deep Oxidation over Palladium Catalyst. Journal of rare earths 21(1), pp. 51–54.
18.
Xiong, S. and Ma, C. 2003. Experimental Research on Flotation Separation of a Bastnasite-Type Rare-Earths Ore. Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources 3, pp. 8–13.
19.
Xiong et al. 2018 – Xiong, W., Deng, J., Chen, D., et al. 2018. Beneficiation Research on a Phosphorus-silicate-RE Ore. Nonferrous Metals (Mineral Processing Section) 3, pp. 57–61.
20.
Xiong et al. 2018 – Xiong, W., Deng, J., Chen, B., Deng, S. and Wei, D. 2018. Flotation-magnetic separation for the beneficiation of rare earth ores. Minerals Engineering 119, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mine....
21.
Xu et al. 2015 – Xu, D., Wang, J., Li, B., et al. 2015. A New Procedure for Comprehensive Recovery of Minerals Containing Rare Earth and Iron from Bayan Obo Ores. Journal of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths 33(5), pp. 633–640.
22.
Xu et al. 2020 – Xu, Y., Xu, L., Wu, H., Wang, Z., Shu, K., Fang, S. and Zhang, Z. 2020. Flotation and co–adsorption of mixed collectors octanohydroxamic acid/sodium oleate on bastnaesite. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 819, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jall....
23.
Yan, C. and Huang, X. 2024. Review on Research of Rare Earths Field in China in 2023. Journal of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths 42(3), pp. 381–418.
24.
Zhang et al. 2017 – Zhang, Y., Lin, H., Dong, Y.B., Xu, X.F., Wang, X. and Gao, Y.J. 2017. Coupling relationship between multicomponent recovery of rare earth tailings. Rare Metals 36(3), pp. 220–228, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598....
25.
Zhang et al. 2020 – Zhang, S., Zhang, L., Zhang, Y., et al. 2020. Summarize on rare earth mineral resources and their distribution at home and abroad. Inorganic Chemicals Industry 52(1), pp. 9–16.
26.
Zhao et al. 2020 – Zhao, C., Chen, H. and Yue, X. 2000. Application of LF-8 and LF-6 Collectors in Rare Earth Beneficiation. Chinese Rare Earths 3.
| eISSN: | 2299-2324 |
| ISSN: | 0860-0953 |
© 2006-2026 Journal hosting platform by Bentus
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
