In a major advancement in rare earth mineral processing, Baotou Iron & Steel Group (Baogang) has successfully developed and industrially validated a new rare earth collector—“KYR-type Rare Earth Collector”—marking a significant leap in China’s rare earth beneficiation capabilities.

According to Baogang, the KYR collector, independently developed and scaled up for industrial production by the company’s Mining Research Institute, has completed a full-cycle industrial application trial on the rare earth flotation production line at Baogang’s beneficiation plant. The trial confirms a critical technological breakthrough that will substantially enhance the comprehensive utilization efficiency of rare earth resources from the Bayan Obo deposit—China’s largest and most strategically important rare earth ore body.

Outstanding Performance in Industrial Trials

The KYR collector was jointly tested by the Mining Research Institute and Baishan Mining (a subsidiary of Bayan Obo Beneficiation Branch) over a 34-day continuous industrial trial. Results demonstrated exceptional performance across key metrics:

• Rare earth concentrate grade: Reached a weighted average of 60.83% across 40 stable production shifts—significantly exceeding the preset target.

• Concentrate output: Averaged 8.8% higher than the trial’s production goal.

• Impurity reduction: Phosphorus content in the concentrate was reduced by approximately 18% compared to routine operations.

These results confirm the collector’s robustness and adaptability under real-world conditions—including fluctuating ore composition and varying process water quality—while delivering higher-grade, higher-yield, and cleaner rare earth products.

Strategic Implications

The reduction in phosphorus is particularly significant: lower impurity levels not only improve concentrate quality but also reduce costs and environmental burdens in downstream rare earth smelting and separation processes.

As the primary custodian of the Bayan Obo resource, Baogang plays a pivotal role in securing China’s supply chain for critical minerals. The KYR collector represents a homegrown innovation that reduces reliance on imported reagents and strengthens domestic rare earth processing autonomy.

Next Steps

The research team at Baogang’s Mining Research Institute stated that future R&D efforts will focus on:

• Further increasing concentrate grade and yield

• Reducing harmful impurities (e.g., phosphorus, fluorine)

• Optimizing reagent cost and operational adaptability

• Lowering moisture content in final concentrate

These improvements aim to continuously elevate the resource efficiency and economic viability of rare earth extraction, providing a stable, high-quality raw material foundation for China’s strategic emerging industries—including electric vehicles, wind turbines, defense systems, and advanced electronics.

(Source: Baotou Media Convergence Center)