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The extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) from their oxide ores is of growing economic and political interest in the US. The electrochemical process termed molten oxide electrolysis (MOE), where metals are extracted from their oxides using heat and electricity, offers an environmentally-friendly alternative to current methods for REE extraction. In the previous semester, a novel induction-heated ... read morereactor was engineered by a Senior Design group capable of supporting the electrowinning of REEs at laboratory scale. A method for measuring the ultra-high temperatures exceeding 2200 degrees Celsius, necessary for REE MOE, has been developed. A thermal model of the reactor was validated by measuring the steady state temperature gradient within the reactor. With this model, the effectiveness of radiation shielding was quantified and the distribution of thermal stresses supports observed stress fracture locations in radiation shields due to steady state temperature gradients. Finally, a preliminary investigation of potential REE MOE experimental methods was completed to demonstrate the electrowinning of rare earths directly from their oxides.read less
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