Gas-assisted microflow extraction (game) system patent
AssigneesVirginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Phinix, LLC
InventorsWencai Zhang, Subodh Das
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure concerns a Gas-Assisted Microbubble Extraction (GAME) system with an innovative dispersion module that can be used to efficiently separate and purify base metals and rare earth elements from various sources. The GAME system utilizes a three phase system of a gas phase, an organic phase, and an aqueous phase to efficiently extract low concentration metals from a solution.
Claims17
A process for extracting a low-concentration metal comprising:
- providing a metal solution to a three segment vertical reactor comprising a bottom segment for gas, a middle segment for an organic phase feed and an upper segment for an aqueous phase feed and an upper exit port, wherein the organic phase comprises one or more organic extractants and the aqueous phase comprises the metal solution and wherein a first porous material separates the bottom segment and the middle segment and a second porous material separates the middle segment and the upper segment;
- introducing a gas to the reactor in the bottom segment, wherein the first porous material causes the gas to form bubbles in the organic phase and further wherein gas bubbles, organic droplets and organic phase-coated bubbles enter the aqueous phase to absorb one or more metals therein;
- collecting a mixed phase from the upper exit port comprised of the gas, organic phase and aqueous phase;
- separating the mixed phase into an organic fraction and an aqueous fraction;
- and,
- isolating one or more metals from the organic fraction.
A reactor for Gas-Assisted Microbubble Extraction (GAME) of a base metal, a precious metal, and/or a rare earth element from an aqueous phase feed, comprising:
- a three segment vertical reactor comprising a bottom segment for gas, a middle segment for an organic phase feed and an upper segment for an aqueous phase feed, wherein the organic phase comprises one or more organic extractants and the aqueous phase comprises the metal solution;
- an upper exit port in the upper segment;
- a first porous material that separates the bottom segment and the middle segment;
- and,
- a second porous material that separates the middle segment and the upper segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.