RARE EARTH ELEMENTS COLLECTING METHOD AND RARE EARTH ELEMENTS COLLECTING SYSTEM

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rare earth elements collecting device and a rare earth elements collecting method which can collect rare earth elements with less energy than before without pulling up rare earth mud on the sea.SOLUTION: A rare earth elements collecting device 100 comprises: an electrode 110 including a cathode 111 contacting with rare earth mud 5 and an anode 112 arranged around the cathode 111; a power-supply unit 120 applying DC voltage to the electrode 110; an ion uptake chamber 131 containing the anode 112 and an ion uptake vessel 130 formed an opening 132; an ion-permeable membrane 140 blocking up the opening 132 but permitting movement of ions; a pressure-feeding pipe 151 and a return pipe 152 linked to the ion uptake vessel 130; a pump 160 connected to the pressure-feeding pipe 151 and the return pipe 152, and transporting circulating water along a circulation route; and a collecting device 170 collecting rare earth element ions in the circulating water from the circulating water as rare earth salts.