Back to results
US 10,669,610 B2Granted
Rare earth element extraction from coal
AssigneeUniversity of North Dakota
InventorsDaniel Laudal, Steven Benson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes contacting a coal feedstock with an acidic solution to form residual coal and a leachate. The method further includes separating the residual coal from the leachate where the leachate contains rare earth elements and where the residual coal has preserved organic content and reduced inorganic content. Another method includes contacting a coal feedstock with a basic solution to form residual coal and a leachate. The method further includes separating the residual coal from the leachate where the leachate contains rare earth elements.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- contacting a coal feedstock with an acidic solution to form a residual coal and a leachate;
- and
- separating the residual coal from the leachate, wherein the leachate contains rare earth elements, and wherein the residual coal has preserved organic content and reduced inorganic content such that an ash content of the residual coal will be reduced during combustion.
A method comprising:
- contacting a coal feedstock with ammonium acetate or other ion exchange solution;
- contacting the coal feedstock with an acidic solution to form a residual coal and a leachate;
- and
- separating the residual coal from the leachate, wherein the leachate contains rare earth elements, and wherein the residual coal has preserved organic content and reduced inorganic content such that an ash content of the residual coal will be reduced during combustion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.