The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Energy

Mengling Stuckman

Thomas J Tarka

Christina L Lopano

The invention provides a method for extracting REEs from ash having the steps of contacting ash with a first acid solution to generate leachate having a pH between approximately 5.0 and approximately 5.5; contacting the ash with a second acid solution to generate leachate having a pH between approximately 2.8 and approximately 3.5; and contacting the ash with a third acid solution to generate leachate having a pH between approximately −0.6 and approximately 0.5. The invention also provides a method for leaching REEs from ash having the steps of: contacting ash with a first amount of acid sufficient to leach Ca and AJ from the ash without leaching REEs; contacting the ash with a second amount of acid sufficient to leach REEs from the ash without leaching Fe and Sc; and contacting ash with a third amount of acid sufficient to leach Fe and Sc from the ash.

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Bethel Park, PA, United States of America

Mengling Stuckman