Methods and systems for separating metals
AssigneeNant Holdings IP, LLC
InventorPatrick Soon-Shiong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature to produce a first vapor including the first metal. The first vapor can be condensed in a condensation zone to produce a first liquid including the first metal, and the first liquid can be collected. The system can include a separation unit include a heating zone in fluid communication with a condensation zone and a means for applying solar energy to heat a metal-containing feed stream disposed in the heating zone.
Claims19
A method for separating metals from a multiple metal-containing feed stream comprising a first metal and a second metal, the method comprising:
- (i) recovering the first metal by:
- applying solar energy using one or more heliostats to heat the multiple metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature thereby producing a first vapor comprising the first metal, wherein the second metal does not substantially vaporize at the first temperature and the second metal remains in the multiple metal-containing feed stream;
- condensing the first vapor in a condensation zone at a second temperature to produce a first liquid comprising the first metal;
- and
- collecting the first liquid comprising the first metal;
- and
- (ii) recovering the second metal remaining in the multiple metal-containing feed stream by:
- applying solar energy using the one or more heliostats to heat the multiple metal-containing feed stream comprising the second metal in the heating zone to produce a second vapor comprising the second metal;
- and
- condensing the second vapor to produce a second liquid comprising the second metal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.