Alkali sintering-multistep leaching experiments are carried out to extract the rare metals Ga, Nb and REE (rare earth elements) from the fly ash in the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) generated from the Anwen Coal-fired Power Plant in Chongqing, Southwest China. It is shown that, the roasting of the CFB fly ash with 1.5 times Na₂CO₃ under 860℃ for 30 minutes, followed by the water leaching (Solid/Liquid (S/L)=1:10; 90℃; 2 hours) extraction of Ga and the acid leaching (HCl solution, 6 mol/L; S/L= 1:20; 60℃; 2 hours) extraction of REE, can achieve extraction rates of 84.70% and 80.07% for Ga and REE, respectively. The leaching rate of Niobium (Nb) enriched in the acid leaching residue, is lower than 1% in the above two steps. Adsorption and desorption experiments of Gallium from the Ga-rich water leaching filtrate using the D201 ion exchange resin and NH₄Cl solution (0.5 mol/L) are carried out both under a temperature of 40℃. The adsorption rate (27.99%) and the desorption rate (37.33%) of Ga are unsatisfactory. The conditions of the follow-up experiments would be adjusted in order to enhance the separation and extraction effect of Ga. The extraction process of Nb from the acid leaching residue and the separation of REE from the acid leaching solution also need to be further studied. With the above combined extraction technology for Ga, Nb, REE and subsequent studies, a high value-added fly ash product is expected. The environmental pollution pressure caused by the Anwen fly ash might be alleviated.

fly ash  /  rare metal  /  gallium  /  niobium  /  rare earth elements  /  combined extraction