Acoustic Cavitation Plasma Synthesis (ACPS) for Non-Thermal Rare Earth Element (REE) Liberation from Coal Fly Ash Matrices

Abstract

The global supply chain for critical Rare Earth Elements (REEs) is constrained by geopolitical monopolies and legacy extraction methodologies that rely on highly toxic, low-yield acid leaching and bulk thermal smelting. This paper details a solid-state, non-thermal extraction architecture utilizing Acoustic Cavitation Plasma Synthesis (ACPS) and Universal Dielectric Barrier Discharge (U-DBD) gateways to process industrial coal fly ash and waste streams. By employing tuned acoustic resonance, the system physically fractures the aluminosilicate glass matrices that trap trace REEs. Simultaneously, an asymmetric U-DBD plasma sheath is applied to execute targeted molecular cleavage, liberating neodymium, yttrium, and scandium ions via electrohydrodynamic (EHD) separation. This methodology completely bypasses legacy thermodynamic smelting and toxic acid dependencies, establishing a high-yield, closed-loop framework to convert hazardous coal ash liabilities into sovereign domestic REE assets.