Enhanced leaching process of a low-grade weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore with carboxymethyl sesbania gum

•The leaching process of rare earth ore was enhanced with the carboxymethyl sesbania gum.•The experimental data was analyzed using chromatographic theory.•The carboxymethyl sesbania gum has more reduced the lixiviant consumption than sesbania gum.

Carboxymethyl modification was used to promote the performance of sesbania gum in enhancing the leaching process of low-grade weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore. In order to compare the performance of unmodified sesbania gum and carboxymethyl sesbania gum in enhancing the leaching process, a series of leaching experiments were carried out. The experimental data was analyzed using chromatographic non-equilibrium plate theory. It was found that the carboxymethyl sesbania gum has enhanced the leaching process more and with reduced lixiviant consumption compared to sesbania gum. It provides a new approach to leaching this type of ore using a Green Chemistry approach.

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