A method for recovering rare earth material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for recovering rare earth material comprising the first step of subjecting a pregnant leach solution comprising rare earth material to a first alkali treatment within a reaction vessel so as to adjust the pH value of the pregnant leach solution to 5 or less for selectively precipitating solid particles of impurities therein. Subsequently, a first stream of microbubbles is introduced into the pregnant leach solution for adsorbing and floating the precipitate of impurities to the surface of the pregnant leach solution. Next, the floated precipitate of impurities is removed from the pregnant leach solution to provide a raffinate solution comprising the rare earth material and then subjecting the raffinate solution to a second alkali treatment so as to adjust the pH value of the raffinate solution to between 5 and 9 for precipitating the rare earth material. A second stream of microbubbles is then introduced for adsorbing and floating the precipitate of rare earth material to the surface of the raffinate solution and recovering the floated precipitate of rare earth material from the raffinate solution.