Key Technologies for Treating Coal-Mining Wastes And Extracting Rare Earth Metals

To investigate and validate the feasibility of extracting rare earth metals from coal-mining byproducts in the Lugansk People’s Republic. This involves analyzing the mineralogical composition of accumulated waste at coal mines and examining the biochemical processes taking place within. Methods: Conducting experiments on biochemical acid leaching of waste rock samples using a culture of sulfate-reducing Thioferrooxidans microorganisms. Additionally, a pure culture of Thioferrooxidans microorganisms will be obtained through established microbiological techniques. Results: A method has been developed and a technology has been proposed for obtaining the rare metals of gallium and germanium from coal-mine waste rock through the natural processes of sulfuric acid formation within the rock. Experimental results indicated that the leaching efficiency of germanium reached 1.6 mg/kg of rock while gallium achieved up to 2 mg/kg of waste rock. This suggests that such waste can be regarded as a potential source of metal-bearing raw materials, providing both environmental and economic benefits for the region. Practical significance: The proposed method will facilitate the utilization of waste rock, thereby minimizing the adverse environmental impacts associated with waste and promoting the production of rear earth metals.