稀土尾矿资源综合利用研究现状及展望

Comprehensive Utilization of Rare Earth Tailings Resources: A Review

随着稀土矿床开采的进行,有价资源大量浪费与尾矿堆积剧增之间的矛盾日益凸显,稀土尾矿的综合利用与无害化处治是中国稀土矿山企业可持续发展的必经之路。首先总结了轻稀土和中/重稀土尾矿的工艺矿物学特性,然后系统综述了从减量化角度分析,可通过单一/综合回收工艺对稀土尾矿中的稀土元素、铁、铌、钪等有用组分进行再利用;从资源化角度分析,在建筑领域利用稀土尾矿可制备水泥、混凝土骨料、陶瓷、微晶玻璃及砖材,而在其他领域,其可制备地聚物、催化剂及各种功能材料(例如,吸波/吸附材料、冰晶石等);从无害化角度,可采用淋洗、浸泡及植物生态修复的方式去除稀土尾矿中的铵根离子、重金属等有害组分;最后展望了未来应聚焦稀土矿物基因库、高效加工技术、稀土产业生态链、生态复垦产业化等关键技术。

With the progress of rare earth mining,the contradiction between the massive waste of valuable resources and the sharp increase in tailings accumulation has become increasingly prominent.The sustainable development of rare earth mining enterprises in our country necessitates the comprehensive utilization and environmentally sound treatment of rare earth tailings.In this paper,initially,the process mineralogical properties of both light rare earth and medium/heavy rare earth tailings are outlined.Then,the current status of utilizing rare earth tailings,focusing on aspects such as reduction,resource utilization,and detoxification is systematically reviewed.Valuable components found in rare earth tailings,including rare earth elements,iron,niobium,and scandium,can be effectively reclaimed through a single or comprehensive recovery process.In the field of construction,rare earth tailings can be utilized for the production of cement,concrete aggregates,ceramics,glassceramics,and bricks.In various applications,it can be employed to create geopolymers,catalysts,and various functional materials,such as adsorbing materials and cryolite.Harmful components such as ammonium ions and heavy metals in rare earth tailings may be removed by leaching,soaking and plant ecological restoration.Finally,the paper anticipates directing attention toward key technologies such as rare earth mineral gene banks,efficient processing technology,the rare earth industry ecological chain,and the industrialization of ecological reclamation in the future.