Behavior of phase transformation of Baotou mixed rare earth concentrate during oxidation roasting

Based on the new process named "Combination Method" for metallurgy and separation of Baotou mixed rare earth concentrate(BMREC),the aim of this paper is to clearly elucidate the phase change behavior of BMREC without additives during oxidative roasting at 450-800℃.The results indicate that the bastnaesite in BMREC is decomposed at 450-550℃,the weight loss is about 10.3 wt%,and the activation energy(E) is 144 kJ/mol.The bastnaesite in BMREC is decomposed into rare earth fluoride,rare earth oxides(La_(2)O_(3),Ce_(7)O_(12),Pr_(6)O_(11) and Nd_(2)O_(3)),and CO_(2),particularly,with the increase of roasting temperature,bastnaesite in BMREC is more completely decomposed into LaF_(3),which causes a decrease in leaching rate of La during the HCI leaching process.Additionally,the maximum cerium oxidation efficiency reaches about 60 wt% when the roasting temperature is equal to or above 500℃,and the oxidation reaction rate of cerium increases with the increasing roasting temperature.