Understanding the Rare Earth Production Process
From raw ore to finished product, each stage presents unique wastewater challenges and opportunities for resource recovery.
Mining & Beneficiation
Raw ore is extracted and then crushed, ground, and physically separated to concentrate the rare earth minerals.
Wastewater: High turbidity, suspended solids, flotation agents.
Smelting & Separation
The concentrate is chemically treated with strong acids or alkalis, followed by complex solvent extraction to separate individual elements.
Wastewater: HIGHLY COMPLEX. High salinity, high acidity, high COD.
Purification & Refining
Separated elements undergo further purification through processes like precipitation and calcination to produce high-purity rare earth oxides.
Wastewater: Contains residual chemicals, high salt content.
Processing & Forming
High-purity materials are processed into final products like alloys, magnets, and powders through cutting, grinding, and polishing.
Wastewater: Contains suspended solids, heavy metals, organics.
Are You Facing These Wastewater Challenges?
We understand the complex issues you face in your operations.
Strict Regulations
Tightening discharge standards create immense compliance pressure, risking fines or even shutdowns.
High Treatment Costs
Traditional methods involve high chemical and energy consumption, leading to excessive operational expenses.
Complex Composition
High salinity, acidity, and pollutant concentrations make conventional treatment methods ineffective.
Low Recovery Rate
Valuable rare earth elements in wastewater are often lost, causing resource waste and economic loss.
The Challenge of Rare Earth Wastewater: "Four Highs, One Complexity"
Understanding the problem is the first step toward the right solution.
High Salinity
Total salt content can exceed 10%, inhibiting conventional biological treatment processes.
High Acidity
Wastewater pH is often below 1, making it highly corrosive to equipment and pipelines.
High Pollutants
COD and ammonia nitrogen levels are extremely high, often hundreds of times that of municipal sewage.
High-Value Elements
Contains valuable rare earth ions, which are both pollutants and vital strategic resources to be recovered.
Complex Composition
Includes heavy metals, organic extractants, and additives, creating a highly variable mixture.
Targeted Solutions for Different Wastewater Types
We understand that not all wastewater is created equal. Our solutions are tailored to the specific characteristics of each stream.
1. Beneficiation Wastewater
Characteristics:
- High concentration of suspended solids (SS) and turbidity.
- Contains flotation agents and other chemical additives.
- Relatively low salinity compared to other streams.
Recommended Process Flow:
2. Decomposition Wastewater
Characteristics:
- Extreme pH levels (highly acidic or alkaline).
- High salinity, typically from ammonium chloride or sulfate.
- Contains dissolved rare earth ions and some heavy metals.
Recommended Process Flow:
3. Extraction / Ion Exchange Wastewater
Characteristics:
- Extremely high salinity (>100,000 mg/L).
- High concentration of COD from organic extractants.
- High ammonia nitrogen levels. Contains valuable rare earth ions.
Recommended Process Flow:
4. Refining Wastewater
Characteristics:
- High concentration of salts from precipitation mother liquor.
- May contain residual precipitating agents.
- Lower in organic pollutants compared to extraction wastewater.
Recommended Process Flow:
WTEYA's Evaporation-Membrane Hybrid Process: Your Ultimate Solution
We integrate MVR/Multi-Effect Evaporation with advanced membrane technology for a highly effective, targeted solution.
Efficient Recovery
Achieve over 99% rare earth recovery, turning treatment costs into significant economic returns.
Stable Compliance
Effluent quality far exceeds national standards, ensuring compliant operations and peace of mind.
Energy & Cost Savings
Our optimized process reduces energy consumption by over 30% compared to traditional evaporation.
"Zero" Discharge
Achieve true "zero" discharge, with treated water recycled back into production processes.
The Two Core Technologies Driving Our Solution
We deeply integrate cutting-edge evaporation and membrane technologies for a synergistic effect.
Core Engine: High-Efficiency Evaporator (MVR/Multi-Effect)
As the key to volume reduction, our evaporation system utilizes the energy of secondary steam to drastically reduce consumption. It concentrates wastewater over 10 times, efficiently separating salts and pollutants for recovery and further treatment.
- Ultra-Low Energy Consumption: MVR evaporators save over 80% of steam compared to traditional processes.
- High Automation: PLC intelligent control for stable, one-touch operation, minimizing manual intervention.
- Superior Materials: Utilizes special materials like titanium and Hastelloy for long-term operation in corrosive environments.
Deep Purification: Advanced Membrane Technology
We use specialized membranes designed for high-salinity wastewater to polish the evaporator condensate. This "micro-sieve" precisely removes dissolved salts and trace pollutants, producing high-quality water for direct reuse.
- Excellent Desalination: Achieves a total salt rejection rate of over 99.5%, ensuring water quality exceeds reuse standards.
- High Fouling Resistance: Specially modified membrane surfaces resist fouling, extending cleaning cycles.
- High System Recovery: Optimized design allows for system water recovery rates of over 90%, maximizing water use.
Seeing is Believing: Exceptional Treatment Results
The data speaks for itself. Our process ensures stable, efficient, and compliant wastewater treatment.
Before Treatment
After Treatment
| Indicator | Influent | Effluent | Removal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| COD (mg/L) | 20,000 - 50,000 | < 50 | > 99.9% |
| Ammonia (mg/L) | 5,000 - 15,000 | < 15 | > 99.8% |
| Total Salinity (mg/L) | 80,000 - 120,000 | < 500 (Reuse Std.) | > 99.5% |
| Rare Earth Ions (mg/L) | 500 - 2,000 | < 1 (Post-recovery) | > 99.9% (Recovery) |
*Note: Data is typical; actual values may vary with influent quality.
Beyond End-of-Pipe Treatment:
Integrated into Key Production Stages
Our technology can be integrated directly into your production process, enabling resource recovery and waste reduction at the source, turning a reactive process into a proactive strategy.
- In-Process Intervention: Intervene after extraction or separation to recover high-value elements before they are lost or contaminated.
- Reduced Load & Costs: Decrease the total pollutant load from the source, reducing the burden and cost on final treatment facilities.
WTEYA Solution Point
(Resource Recovery + Volume Reduction)
Application Fields: Covering the Entire Industry Chain
We provide precise, customized solutions for various process stages.
Smelting & Separation
Treat high-salinity, acidic wastewater from extraction and crystallization, recovering lanthanide elements.
Permanent Magnets
Handle wastewater from NdFeB magnet production (cutting, grinding, electroplating) for heavy metal removal and water reuse.
Phosphors & Alloys
Solve complex wastewater challenges from producing phosphors and hydrogen storage alloys, ensuring environmental safety.
Polishing & Catalysts
Treat high-TSS, high-COD wastewater from cerium-based polishing powders and cracking catalysts, recovering rare earths.
Optical Glass & Ceramics
Address grinding and cleaning wastewater from processing special optical materials containing La, Ce, and Nd.
Petrochemical Industry
Manage complex wastewater from the production and regeneration of rare earth catalysts, containing oil, salt, and high COD.
Why Choose Us
Expertise, Rooted in 20 Years of Industry Experience
Choosing WTEYA means choosing reliability, efficiency, and long-term value.
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20 Years of Experience
- We have over two decades of experience in industrial wastewater treatment, with a deep understanding of industry challenges.
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Expert Technical Team
- Our team, led by PhDs and senior engineers, provides comprehensive support from diagnosis to operation.
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Customized Solutions
- We analyze every wastewater sample to design the most efficient and cost-effective solution for your specific needs.
Outstanding Success Stories
Our expertise and quality are validated by projects with industry-leading companies.
Evaporation Project in Foxconn Group
Waste Liquid Evaporation and Concentration Treatment System Solution, realizing resource utilization and water recycling
Evaporation Project in Rongbai Group
EPC Turnkey Project, including MVR evaporation, concentration and crystallization system for lithium-containing concentrated water
Zero Discharge Project in Kaizhong Precision
600 T/D Advanced Wastewater Treatment & Zero Discharge Engineering Project; Evaporation System Solution
Evaporation Concentration Project in Zhongyi Technology
740 T/D Reclaimed Water Reuse + 5 T/H Copper-Containing Wastewater Evaporation Concentration Equipment Project
Zero Discharge Project in Huilai, Guangdong
600 T/D Waste Liquid Evaporation Concentration & Zero Discharge Treatment Project; Advanced Evaporation System Treatment Solution
Zero Liquid Discharge Project in Inner Mongolia
600 T/D Waste Liquid Evaporation Concentration & Zero Discharge Treatment Project; Advanced Evaporation System Treatment Solution
Start Your Efficient Treatment Journey in Just Four Steps
We offer a clear, transparent, and efficient partnership process.
Initial Consultation
Contact us via our website or phone to discuss your initial requirements.
Needs Analysis
Our technical experts will work with you to understand your specific conditions and water quality.
Custom Proposal
We design a tailored technical solution, process flow, and investment analysis based on our findings.
Implementation & Support
We provide equipment, installation, training, and long-term support to ensure project success.
About WTEYA
Started in 2009, we are an environmental protection technology enterprise integrating R&D, production, sales and installation.
WTEYA Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. is a group company headquartered in Tianan Cyber City, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province. We are committed to providing the world's leading intelligent fluid equipment, with advanced technology and high-quality service, we have won unanimous praise from more than 1,000 customers.
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Over 100+ honors showcasing our technical strength and industry recognition.
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Growing together with over a thousand clients worldwide.
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Our Customers And Services
Milestone Delivery! WTEYA 300T/D + 600T/D Large-Scale Zero Wastewater Discharge Project in Inner Mongolia Successfully Completed!
[Chuzhou Landfill Leachate Zero Discharge Project] Evaporation Crystallization, Achieving 100% Zero Liquid Discharge!
Project Implementation Site of Evaporative Crystallizer for Jordanian Client
Wastewater evaporation, concentration and crystallization turnkey project case - Wuhan Rongbai
Domestic sewage evaporation and concentration treatment project case - 200T/D Huilai project
25T/H pure water equipment water treatment system project case
[Huilai Wastewater Treatment Project: A Case Study] Evaporation and Concentration Solve the High-Salinity Wastewater Problem with Zero Liquid Discharge!
STP Case - 3600T/D Huilai Domestic Sewage Treatment System Project
Guangdong WTEYA Environmental Technology Co., Ltd
Contact us
WhatsApp: +86 1800 2840 855
Tel: +86-0769-28636053
+86-0769-28636126
Email: info@wteya.com
Add: Floor 14, F4 building, TianAn digital town,
Nancheng District, Dongguan,Guangdong, China