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<p>Rare earth elements (REEs) are strategic raw materials for clean-energy technologies and high-value industrial applications. In this context, coal waste has attracted increasing attention as a potential secondary resource within circular-economy strategies for European coal regions. This study evaluates fine coal-waste materials from three European mining regions within the framework of the GreenJOBS and CRMsDataSpace RFCS projects. Four samples were analysed: two Spanish hard-coal wastes from La Matona and El Batán, one Polish hard-coal waste, and one Slovenian lignite-related waste. Total REE concentrations were determined in bulk materials and in selected particle-size fractions. Weighted average total REE contents ranged from 159.72&#xa0;ppm in El Batán to 221.89&#xa0;ppm in La Matona, with values of 202.39&#xa0;ppm and 217.98&#xa0;ppm for the Polish and Slovenian samples, respectively. Among the investigated materials, La Matona showed the highest total REE content and was therefore selected for laboratory-scale physical separation, exploratory leaching, and mineralogical characterisation. However, gravity, magnetic, electrostatic, and flotation tests produced only negligible REE enrichment. Leaching with water and acetic acid was ineffective, whereas hydrochloric acid at 60&#xa0;°C increased dissolved REE concentrations but did not achieve extraction levels suitable for practical recovery under the tested conditions. SEM–EDS and XRD analyses indicate that REEs occur as scarce, fine-grained phases closely associated with quartz- and aluminosilicate-rich matrices. This textural association explains the limited response to conventional beneficiation techniques and the relatively homogeneous REE distribution among particle-size fractions, in contrast to many coal-related materials reported in the literature. Overall, the results suggest that the studied European coal wastes cannot be considered straightforward substitutes for primary REE ores.</p>

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Recovery of rare earth elements from european coal mining waste

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月29日

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  • Francisco Javier Iglesias Rodríguez,
  • Pedro Riesgo Fernández,
  • Alicja Krzemień,
  • Antonio Luis Marqués Sierra,
  • Granadina Álvarez González

摘要

Rare earth elements (REEs) are strategic raw materials for clean-energy technologies and high-value industrial applications. In this context, coal waste has attracted increasing attention as a potential secondary resource within circular-economy strategies for European coal regions. This study evaluates fine coal-waste materials from three European mining regions within the framework of the GreenJOBS and CRMsDataSpace RFCS projects. Four samples were analysed: two Spanish hard-coal wastes from La Matona and El Batán, one Polish hard-coal waste, and one Slovenian lignite-related waste. Total REE concentrations were determined in bulk materials and in selected particle-size fractions. Weighted average total REE contents ranged from 159.72 ppm in El Batán to 221.89 ppm in La Matona, with values of 202.39 ppm and 217.98 ppm for the Polish and Slovenian samples, respectively. Among the investigated materials, La Matona showed the highest total REE content and was therefore selected for laboratory-scale physical separation, exploratory leaching, and mineralogical characterisation. However, gravity, magnetic, electrostatic, and flotation tests produced only negligible REE enrichment. Leaching with water and acetic acid was ineffective, whereas hydrochloric acid at 60 °C increased dissolved REE concentrations but did not achieve extraction levels suitable for practical recovery under the tested conditions. SEM–EDS and XRD analyses indicate that REEs occur as scarce, fine-grained phases closely associated with quartz- and aluminosilicate-rich matrices. This textural association explains the limited response to conventional beneficiation techniques and the relatively homogeneous REE distribution among particle-size fractions, in contrast to many coal-related materials reported in the literature. Overall, the results suggest that the studied European coal wastes cannot be considered straightforward substitutes for primary REE ores.