Outline
Process and apparatus for producing elementary nanoparticulate mineral components and rare metal oxides therefrom using primary and secondary mineral resources by filling raw material (1,15,16,17) into a mixing tank (7), wherein it is diluted with water to a 20% by weight colloidal solution, then the colloidal solution is fed to a colloid mill (8) and dispersed into particles having an average particle size of up to 10 µm, then transferring it to a wet grinding attritor (9), the nanoparticulate colloidal solution thus obtained is passed under pressure to a classifying unit (10) in which its nanocrystallite content is separated into at least two size fractions, each size fraction being dried in a vacuum drier (11), while a further nanocrystallite fraction containing trace elements is separated by the vacuum drier (11), which is passed to a separator (13,11a) where adsorbed rare metal trace elements are separated.
The subject matter is particularly suitable for the disposal of red mud, the extraction of valuable rare earth elements and other secondary industrial raw materials inherent thereof, the cleansing of industrial filter dust hazardous waste, and the extraction of secondary industrial raw materials inherent thereof. The advantage of the technology is that its relatively low energy demand and initial water supply may enable its profitable operation even in areas of use where similar results were not yet economically achievable.