Recovery of Light Rare Earth Elements from Coal Ash via Tartaric Acid and Magnesium Sulfate Leaching
Karagulanova A. Cetiner B.N. Kamunur K. Mussapyrova L. Batkal A. Myltykbayeva Z. Nadirov R.
October 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
ChemEngineering
2025#9Issue 5
Coal ash is a promising secondary resource for rare earth element (REE) recovery, yet efficient processing under environmentally benign conditions remains challenging. This study demonstrates that tartaric acid, when combined with MgSO4 as a salt additive, enables effective extraction of light REEs (La, Ce, Nd). REE recoveries improved from ~40% without salt to nearly 65% under optimized conditions. Kinetic modeling indicated a surface-reaction–controlled mechanism with activation energies of 20–22 kJ/mol, consistent with SEM evidence of particle erosion and size reduction. These findings highlight the potential of organic-salt leaching systems as alternatives to mineral acid processes, offering both effective REE recovery and reduced environmental impact.
coal ash , leaching , magnesium sulfate , rare earth elements (REEs) , shrinking core model , tartaric acid
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Institute of Combustion Problems, Almaty, 050012, Kazakhstan
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, 34722, Turkey
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Institute of Combustion Problems
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
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