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US 2014/0154155 A1Published application
Refining methods and agents for rare earth production
AssigneeLixivia, Inc.
InventorsMichael D. Wyrsta, Zachary J.A. Komon
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Abstract
Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which organic amine-based lixiviants are utilized in the selective recovery of rare earth elements. The lixiviant can be regenerated in situ, permitting the organic amine to be used in substoichiometric amounts.
Claims28
A method for extracting a rare earth element, comprising:
- contacting a sample comprising a first rare earth element with a first lixiviant, the first lixiviant comprising a first organic amine cation and a first counterion;
- forming a first supernatant comprising an uncharged first organic amine, and a first complex comprising a cation of the first rare earth element and the first counterion;
- transferring the first rare earth element cation from the first supernatant;
- and
- regenerating the first organic amine cation,
- wherein the first organic amine cation is provided in substochiometric amounts relative to the first rare earth element.
3 more elements
A method for extracting rare earth elements, comprising:
- contacting a sample comprising a first rare earth element and a second rare earth element with a lixiviant, the lixiviant comprising an first organic amine cation, a second organic amine cation, and a counterion;
- forming a first supernatant comprising an uncharged first organic amine, an uncharged second organic amine, a first complex comprising a first rare earth metal cation and the counterion, and a second complex comprising a second rare earth metal cation and the counterion;
- transferring the first rare earth metal cation from the first supernatant to form a second supernatant;
- transferring the second rare earth metal cation from the second supernatant and,
- regenerating the first organic amine cation and the second organic amine cation from the second supernatant,
- wherein the first organic amine cation is provided in substochiometric amounts relative to the first rare earth metal.
3 more elements
A lixiviant for extracting rare earth elements, comprising:
- an organic amine cation;
- and,
- a counterion;
- wherein the organic amine is formulated to transfer the counterion to an insoluble rare earth salt to form an uncharged organic amine, and wherein uncharged organic amine is formulated to react with an acid form of the counterion to regenerate the organic amine cation.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.