Abstract: A rare earth element recovery system and method are provided. The system includes a heated water bath, a jacketed leaching reactor connected to the heated water bath, a leaching pump connected to the jacketed leaching reactor, a concentrated acidic leaching peristaltic pump for transferring a concentrated acidic leach in connection with a concentrated acidic leaching chamber, a membrane contactor connected to the concentrated acidic leaching peristaltic pump, a stripping phase leaching chamber, a stripping phase peristaltic pump connected to the stripping phase leaching chamber, a paddle mixer, a microfiltration unit connected to the leaching pump, a high pressure pump connected to the microfiltration unit, and a nanofiltration unit.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method for controlling the pore size, pore size distribution and porosity of aluminum-oxide based ceramics through the choice of substituents on carboxylate-alumoxanes and aluminum-oxide nanoparticles. The method allows for the formation of intra-granular pores in the nanometer range to be created in alumina and aluminum oxide ceramic bodies. The control over pore size and pore size distribution is accomplished through the use of different chemical substituents on the carboxylate-alumoxanes and aluminum-oxide nanoparticles. The size and distribution of pores within the alumina-oxide ceramic are dependent on the identity of the carboxylate substituents. In particular the formation of intra-versus inter-granular porosity is dependent on the identity of the carboxylate substituents. The invention also provides methods for the manufacture of ceramic coatings on ceramic and carbon fibers for composite applications and ceramic membranes with nanometer sized pores.