Characterization and Recovery of Rare Earths from Coal and Coal By-Products

摘要

Coal is a valuable resource. The United States has an estimated 250-year supply of coal, and generates between 30 and 40 percent of its electricity through coal combustion. Approximately 1 billion metric tons (Gt) of coal is mined annually in the United States, although the 2015 total will likely be closer to 900 Mt. Most of the coal that is mined is burned for power generation, but substantial quantities are also employed elsewhere. Coal has a positive impact upon many industries, including mining, electricity generation, rail transportation, manufacturing, chemical, steel, activated carbon, and fuels.