Isothermal and non-isothermal decomposition mechanisms of bastnaesite during the hydrogen-based mineral phase transformation

The hydrogen-based mineral phase transformation-flotation process can realize the efficient development of iron-bearing rare earth ores. The isothermal and non-isothermal decomposition mechanisms of bastnasite in the hydrogen atmosphere were studied to optimize the hydrogen-based mineral phase transformation process. The thermal decomposition of bastnasite first produced REOF, which would react with oxygen to produce rare earth oxides and fluorides during the analysis process. The thermal decomposition was an endothermic reaction, and the generated gas were mainly CO2 and trace CO, with a mass loss of about 20%. Increasing the temperature can greatly promote the thermal decomposition. After thermal decomposition, the particles showed a layered structure, and many parallel slits run through the particles. The porosity and specific surface area of the particles were significantly improved. The apparent activation energy of isothermal decomposition was 71.80 ± 5.40 kJ/mol, and the kinetic mechanism was random nucleation and growth model (n = 2). The apparent activation energy of non-isothermal decomposition was 201.96 kJ/mol, and the kinetic mechanism was phase-boundary controlled reaction mechanism (n ≈ 2).