WP4 is led by the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences and involves investigation of the potential for extracting other products from mining waste.
The Workpackage has identified four outputs to be focussed on:
- Op6.1 Increased knowledge of uses of waste in building materials
- Op6.2 Increased knowledge on application of bioleaching of low grade ores
- Op6.3 Increased knowledge on the extraction of Rare Earth Elements from apatite/phosphate
- Op6.4 Increased knowledge on winning of apatite and Rare Earth Elements from tailings
Op6.1 Increased knowledge of uses of waste in building materials
The following activities are planned:
- A6.1.1 Investigation of the utilisation of tailings in building materials
- A6.1.2 Pre-processing of tailings for stabilisation
- A6.1.3 Best Available Technology practices for utilisation of tailings
Op6.2 Increased knowledge on the bioleaching of low grade ores
The following activities are planned:
- Extraction of valuable components from low grade ores by bioleaching
Op6.3 Increased knowledge on extraction of REE from apatite/phosphate
The following activities are planned:
- A6.3.1 Development of technology of processing Phosphate – REE concentrate
- A6.3.2 Improvement of the technology of sorption extraction of REE
- A6.3.3 Functional titanium compounds
Op6.4 Increased knowledge on winning of apatite and REE from tailings
As well as extracting Rare Earth Elements from virgin ore, it is also of interest to examine their recovery from the byproducts/tailings from for example iron ore mines. LKAB in Sweden adn Rana Gruber have tailings containing apatite that have not been utilised, while in the Kola region in Russia processes have been developed to achieve this. The following activities are planned:
- A6.4.1 Development of flotation technology for cold tailings with recycled water
- A6.4.2 Enhancing REE contents with flotation