872 Pages 44 Color & 188 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    New Edition Now Covers Recycling, Environmental Issues, and Analytical Determination

    Employing four decades of experience in the rare metal and rare earths industry, the authors of Extractive Metallurgy of Rare Earths, Second Edition present the entire subject of rare earth elements with depth and accuracy. This second edition updates the most important developments from the past 10 years. It emphasizes advances made in rare-earth materials processing (converting a rare-earth metal, alloy, or compound to a device-ready material), breakthroughs in the area of rare-earth separation, and now includes a chapter on the recycling of rare earth elements from magnets, batteries, and phosphors among others, covering both manufacturing scrap or materials in end of life devices.

    Essential to Your Collection

    This second edition presents comprehensive, detailed, and up-to-date coverage that includes:

    • All aspects of rare earth extractive metallurgy
    • A status of rare earth extraction from various world resources
    • Flow sheets that can be used for rare earths separation, metal reduction, alloy making, refining and end product materials preparation
    • Techniques of various rare earths recycling options
    • An outline of environmental issues in rare earths mining and processing
    • Methods of rare earths determination and analyses of components and impurities in rare earth materials
    • Information extensively linked to primary literature with a complete listing of references
    • A narration of the changing scenario of world rare earth resources and possibility of their exploitation

    An indispensable resource, Extractive Metallurgy of Rare Earths, Second Edition explains the many aspects of rare earth extractive metallurgy clearly and systematically. The text reveals process implementation possibilities and research opportunities, and considers potential solutions to the challenges impacting this rapidly changing industry.

    The Rare Earths
    Introduction
    Discovery
    Special Characteristics
    Properties
    Reactivity
    Aqueous Systems
    Applications
    Global Rare-Earth Demand
    Summary

    Resources
    Introduction
    Crustal Abundance
    Minerals
    Rare-Earth Deposits
    Resources and Reserves
    Occurrence
    By-Products and Coproducts
    World Rare-Earth Production
    A Scenario for the Immediate Future
    Summary

    Resource Processing
    Introduction
    Mining
    Physical Beneficiation
    Beneficiation of Other Rare-Earth Minerals
    Chemical Treatment
    Separation Processes
    Scandium
    Summary

    Reduction
    Introduction
    Fundamentals
    Metallothermy
    Preparation of Rare-Earth Chlorides
    Reduction of Rare-Earth Chlorides
    Preparation of Rare-Earth Fluorides
    Reduction of Rare-Earth Fluorides
    Oxide Reduction Processes
    New Reduction Procedures
    Carbothermic Reduction
    Electrolytic Production of Rare-Earth Metals
    Recovery of Rare-Earth Metals as Alloys
    Current Efficiency
    Summary

    Refining
    Introduction
    Origin of Impurities
    Methods for Impurity Removal
    Pyrovacuum Treatments
    Pyrovacuum Techniques
    Electrorefining
    Ultrapurification Methods
    Zone Refining
    Solid-State Electrotransport
    Zone Refining and Electrotransport
    Iodide Refining
    Miscellaneous Processes
    Summary

    Rare-Earth Materials
    Introduction
    Misch Metal
    Rare Earth–Silicon–Iron Alloys
    Rare Earth–Magnesium–Silicon Alloys
    Rare Earth–Aluminum–Zinc Alloy
    Yttrium–Aluminum Alloy
    RE–TM–Mg Alloys
    FCC Catalysts
    Permanent Magnet Materials
    Rare Earth–Co Permanent Magnets
    Neodymium–Iron–Boron Magnets
    Sm–Fe–N Magnets
    Lanthanum Substitution in Ferrites
    Magnetostrictive Material (Terfenol-D)
    Magnetic Refrigerants (Magnetocaloric Materials)
    Thin Film Deposition Processes
    NiMH Battery and Hydrogen Storage Materials
    Special Rare-Earth Ceramics
    Preparation of Rare-Earth Phosphors
    Superconductors
    Summary

    Recycling
    Introduction
    Materials for Recycling
    Potential for Recycling
    Processes for Recycling
    Pyrometallurgical Processes
    Hydrometallurgy
    Separation of Individual Rare Earths
    Magnets
    Nickel–Metal Hydride Batteries
    Phosphors
    Glass-Polishing Powder
    Catalysts
    Optical Glass
    Miscellaneous Materials
    Summary

    Analysis of Rare Earths
    Introduction
    Chemical Methods
    Analytical Separation of Rare Earths
    Instrumental Methods
    Spectroscopy
    ICP-MS
    XRF
    NAA
    Other Instrumental Techniques
    Determination of Interstitials
    Summary

    Environmental Aspects
    Introduction
    Contaminant Elements in Rare-Earth Ores
    Main Process Steps in Mining and Processing
    Contaminant Release Points
    Environmental Aspects of Mining and Processing in China
    Entry Criteria for Rare-Earth Industry (China)
    Research and Development on Cleaner Production in China
    Environment-Friendly Processing outside China
    Mountain Pass
    Bear Lodge
    Mount Weld
    Dubbo Zirconia Project
    Kvanefjeld
    Steenkampskrall Mine
    Nechalacho Project
    Summary

    References

    Biography

    Dr. Nagaiyar Krishnamurthy was affiliated with the Materials Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India, for nearly four decades. He earned his BS degree at the University of Madras in 1974, his MSc in 1980, and his PhD in 1992, both at the University of Bombay. He is a professor at the Homi Bhabha National Institute and has been a member of Indian Rare Earths Technology Development Council. In addition, Dr. Krishnamurthy has published more than 100 papers and co-authored three books that include the first edition of Extractive Metallurgy of Rare Earths, published by CRC in 2004.

    Dr. Chiranjib Kumar Gupta retired as the director of Materials Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in January 2000 after decades of association with BARC. He was instrumental in formulating and directing the programs of the Materials Group in the areas of extraction and processing of refractory metals and materials. He pioneered the open aluminothermic reduction as a process of metal- and alloy-making and contributed extensively to the use of fused salt electrolysis for the preparation and refining of group V and VI refractory metals. He is an alumnus of Banaras Hindu University. Dr. Gupta has authored nearly 200 publications.

    "For geologists, chemists, metallurgists, and students, it covers everything they want to know about rare earths — in short it is [the] book of the year."
    Fathi Habashi, Laval University, Quebec, Canada

    "Rare earth elements are finding increasing application in advanced technologies. The book is useful in bringing together the extensive information that is available about the potential sources of these elements and the technologies used to process them. …This is a timely update of a valuable reference source."
    —Peter Hayes, The University of Queensland, Australia

    "This book is an update to a very well written and valuable reference text that has capitalized on an important and scarce commodity. It provides invaluable information on a very important aspect of the development of green energy. Rare earth magnets have become essential components in a wide variety of technical advancements (windmills, Chevy Volt, etc.)."
    —Patrick R. Taylor, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, USA

    "[A strength of this book is] the completeness of the coverage. The addition of a recycling chapter is a good idea. … This is a timely update of a book that is already important. The sooner it appears in print, the better. "
    —Mark E. Schlesinger, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, USA

    "This is the best, most comprehensive, most up-to-date technical book on rare earths—a massive encyclopedic compilation without equal. The new edition, more than 300 pages longer than its predecessor (1st ed., 2004), was updated to include discussions of advances in the field and recycling. Krishnamurthy (Homi Bhabha National Institute, India) and Gupta (formerly, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) organized the volume into 12 chapters. They begin with an introduction to the history, properties, and applications of the rare earths, followed by a discussion of geology, minerals, and specific occurrences worldwide. Later chapters cover processing (mining, beneficiation, etc.); reduction to the metals, including the chemistry and physics of different methods; metal refining processes; rare earth materials and their applications; recycling; "accurate and reliable techniques" for chemical characterization and analyses of rare earth materials; and environmental issues and select examples from many areas worldwide. The text is strongly and appropriately augmented by numerous tables, charts, and illustrations. Most outstanding is a reference list of about 1,260 items that deal with the many subtopics addressed. The book's value lies in its complete coverage of essential knowledge of rare earth metals, including their technology and uses."
    CHOICE, September 2016