US 12,716,143 B2 · Selective recovery of rare earth elements from alloys by electrochemical leaching and electrodeposition

Abstract

A method for selectively recovering a rare earth element (REE) from an alloy includes applying a potential of from −3.5 V to 0 V to an electrochemical cell comprising a anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, wherein (i) the anode comprises an alloy comprising a REE, (ii) the cathode comprises a noble metal, and (iii) the electrolyte comprises an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt and a nonaqueous solvent. Under the applied potential, at least some of the REE is oxidatively dissolved from the anode and is electrodeposited onto the cathode to form an REE deposit.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for selectively recovering a rare earth element (REE) from an alloy material comprising the REE, the method comprising:

applying a potential of from −3.5 V to 0 V to an electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, wherein (i) the anode comprises the alloy comprising the REE, (ii) the cathode comprises a noble metal, and (iii) the electrolyte comprises an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt and a nonaqueous organic solvent, to oxidatively dissolve at least a portion of the REE from the anode;
and
isolating an REE deposit from the alloy material, wherein the REE deposit is formed on the cathode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/300,313Filed 13 Apr 2023 · us provisional application

Priority

18 Apr 2022

Published

US 2023/0332319 A119 Oct 2023

Granted

25 Aug 2026

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

C25C 1/22
Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of solutions: of metals not provided for in groups C25C1/02 - C25C1/20
C25C 3/34
Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts: of metals not provided for in groups C25C3/02 - C25C3/32
C25C 7/02
Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells: electrodes ; Connections thereof
C25C 7/06
Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells: operating or servicing

Selective recovery of rare earth elements from alloys by electrochemical leaching and electrodeposition

Life of this patent

Selective recovery of rare earth elements from alloys by electrochemical leaching and electrodeposition

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20