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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 2 8 The DOE-NETL REE program con- sists of three core technology areas: • Enabling technologies: Develop NETL’s technology knowledge basis through resource identification, field sampling and characterization, techno-economic analysis devel- opment, and field and/or process sensor development. • Separation technologies: Address the viability of utilizing commercial- ly available extraction and separa- tion equipment and/or systems that have been developed for alternate technologies, and demonstrate their capability (i.e., technology transfer) for the extraction and separation of REEs from coal-based materials. Develop new or novel embryonic/transformational REE extraction and separation concepts. • Process systems: Design, construct, and operate bench-scale and/or small pilot-scale systems to validate the capability of producing REEs from coal-based resources. PROGRAM-FUNDED PROJECT EFFORTS Figure 4 provides an overview of the project activities within the DOE- NETL REE program since 2014. The pro- gram is funded at a level of $15M/year, and currently consists of over 25 active projects. These activities are performed by small business professionals, uni- versity participants, and researchers within NETL’s in-house Research and Innovation Center, as well as at alter- nate DOE national labs including Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and Pacific North- west National Laboratory. A series of Funding Opportuni- ty Announcements (FOA) and Request for Proposals (RFP) were subsequent- ly released by DOE-NETL. These fo- cused on bench-scale and pilot-scale development using conventional and second-generation extraction and sep- aration processes to recover REEs—at a minimum of 2 wt% (20,000 ppm) to 90-99% (900,000-990,000 ppm)—from coal and coal-based materials initial- ly containing 300 ppm REEs. In addi- tion, the FOAs and RFPs covered field prospecting for locating REE-contain- ing coal-based materials within the U.S. (Fig. 4). DOE-NETL REE PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS Numerous technical contributions have resulted during conduct of the DOE-NETL REE program since 2014 [7] . Five major accomplishments have oc- curred thus far, which highlight the technical competencies of both NETL in-house research staff, as well as the capabilities of external contractors to bring to fruition the ability to detect and extract REEs from coal-based re- sources. These accomplishments in- clude development of a fiber optic probe to detect ppm REE concentra- tions in liquids, e.g., AMD materials and REE extraction and separation fluids. In addition, development and licensing of NETL Research and Innovation Center’s immobilized amine-based sorbents to remove REEs has occurred. During FY2017, DOE-NETL’s exter- nal stakeholders demonstrated their capabilities for extraction of REEs from coal-based materials, generating >30 wt% (300,000 ppm) pre-concen- trates. Early in FY2018, the University of Kentucky produced in small quantities, 80-90 wt% (800,000-900,000 ppm) REEs from coal refuse materials. The Univer- sity of North Dakota demonstrated that REEs in lignitic coals are more likely to be present as organically bound spe- cies, which potentially may be more easily extracted in comparison to REEs present in anthracite and bituminous coals. West Virginia University demon- strated that nearly 100% of the REEs contained in AMD and associated slud- ges can be extracted. Fig. 4 — DOE-NETL Feasibility of Recovering Rare Earth Elements program.