USE OF A PORTABLE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE DETECTOR FOR DETERMINATION OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS IN COAL BYPRODUCTS

The rare earth elements, or the lanthanides, have become increasingly sought after in recent years because of their wide range of uses in consumer goods, notably magnets, rechargeable batteries, and polishing powder. Researchers have been trying to find a way to extract rare earth elements from low REE concentrated secondary sources as a byproduct from already-existing processes such as coal mining in order to reduce waste, energy consumption, and cost. Portable XRF could be a useful tool in this process because of its ability to analyze coal and other field materials on-site, but its accuracy in reporting REE data at low concentrations has been questionable. This study will use a portable Niton XL3t GOLDD+ XRF Analyzer to analyze materials associated with coal. The focus will be the lanthanide elements and elements that are associated with REE, such as thorium and yttrium. Determining whether a portable XRF device can provide accurate data about the concentration of rare earth elements in materials associated with a coal deposit will be discussed. Optimal settings such as mode, time, and sample preparation will be studied. Different calibration methods such as method of standard additions will also be examined.