Rare earth element extraction from coal
AssigneeUniversity of North Dakota
InventorsDaniel Laudal, Steven Benson
Life of this patent
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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 and where the residual coal has reduced inorganic content, but preserved organic content.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- contacting a coal feedstock with an acidic solution to form 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.
The method of claim 15, wherein the coal feedstock is contacted with the acidic solution at a ratio of about 1:2 by weight.
A method comprising:
- contacting a coal feedstock with a basic solution to form residual coal and a leachate;
- and
- separating the residual coal from the leachate, wherein the leachate contains rare earth elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.