The Energy Cost of Extracting Critical Raw Materials from Tailings: The Case of Coltan

Magdalena, R. ; Calvo Sevillano, G. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Valero Delgado, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Niobium and tantalum are mainly produced from columbite–tantalite ores, and 60% of their production is nowadays located in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The concentration of supply, the scarcity, the wide range of use in all electronic devices, and the expected future demand boosted by the clean and digital transition means that Nb and Ta have high supply risks. In this context, extraction from rich Ta and Nb tailings from abandoned mines could partly offset such risks. This study analyzes the energy cost that the reprocessing of both elements from tailings would have. To that end, we simulate with HSC Chemistry software the different processes needed to beneficiate and refine both metals from zinc tailings as a function of Nb and Ta concentration. At current energy and metal prices, tantalum recovery from rich Ta-Nb tailings would be cost-effective if ore-handling costs were allocated to a paying metal. By way of contrast, niobium recovery would not be favored unless market prices increase.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/geosciences12050214

Año: 2022

Publicado en: Geosciences (Switzerland) 12, 5 (2022), 214 [15 pp]
ISSN: 2076-3263

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 5.2 - Earth and Planetary Sciences (Q1)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.66 - Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous) (Q2)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2020-116851RB-I00

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Didáctica Ciencias Exper. (Dpto. Didácticas Específicas)
Área (Departamento): Área Máquinas y Motores Térmi. (Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica)