Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC

Other

Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company

Bruce J Mincher

David Herbert Meikrantz

Terry Allen Todd

Randy Dale Curry

Jeffry Golden

Jack D Law

Catherine L Riddle

Dean R Peterman

John D Baker

Christopher Andrew McGrath

Thomas E Clevenger

Chien M Wai

Robert Vincent Fox

Horng-Bin Pan

Donna L Baek

Mary Ellen Case

Rodney E Arbon

Clive Yen

A method of recovering rare earth elements from a rare earth-containing material comprises contacting the rare earth-containing material with a solution formulated and configured to dissolve rare earth elements from the rare earth-containing material and form a solution including a plurality of rare earth elements dissolved therein. The method further includes exposing the solution including the plurality of rare earth elements dissolved therein to one of a liquefied gas or a supercritical fluid to isolate the rare earth elements from each other. Related methods of removing and purifying rare earth elements from materials and phosphor lamps are also disclosed.

Methods of recovering rare earth elements from a material

An extractant composition comprising a mixed extractant solvent consisting of calix[4] arene-bis-(tert-octylbenzo)-crown-6 ('BOBCalixC6'), 4',4&#x2032;,(5&#x2032;)-di-(t-butyldicyclo-hexano)-18-crown-6 ('DtBu18C6'), and at least one modifier dissolved in a diluent. The DtBu18C6 may be present at from approximately 0.01M to approximately 0.4M, such as at from approximately 0.086 M to approximately 0.108 M. The modifier may be 1-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)-3-(4-sec-butylphenoxy)-2-propanol (&#x201c;Cs-7SB&#x201d;) and may be present at from approximately 0.01M to approximately 0.8M. In one embodiment, the mixed extractant solvent includes approximately 0.15M DtBu18C6, approximately 0.007M BOBCalixC6, and approximately 0.75M Cs-7SB modifier dissolved in an isoparaffinic hydrocarbon diluent. The extractant composition further comprises an aqueous phase. The mixed extractant solvent may be used to remove cesium and strontium from the aqueous phase.

Extractant composition including crown ether and calixarene extractants

A mixed extractant solvent including calix[4]arene-bis-(tert-octylbenzo)-crown-6 ('BOBCalixC6'), 4',4&#x2032;,(5&#x2032;)-di-(t-butyldicyclo-hexano)-18-crown-6 ('DtBu18C6'), and at least one modifier dissolved in a diluent. The mixed extractant solvent may be used to remove cesium and strontium from an acidic solution. The DtBu18C6 may be present from approximately 0.01 M to approximately 0.4M, such as from approximately 0.086 M to approximately 0.108 M. The modifier may be 1-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)-3-(4-sec-butylphenoxy)-2-propanol (&#x201c;Cs-7SB&#x201d;) and may be present from approximately 0.01M to approximately 0.8M. In one embodiment, the mixed extractant solvent includes approximately 0.15M DtBu18C6, approximately 0.007M BOBCalixC6, and approximately 0.75M Cs-7SB modifier dissolved in an isoparaffinic hydrocarbon diluent. The mixed extractant solvent may form an organic phase in an extraction system that also includes an aqueous phase. Methods of extracting cesium and strontium as well as strontium alone are also disclosed.

Cesium and strontium extraction using a mixed extractant solvent including crown ether and calixarene extractants

A process of extracting halogenated organic compounds, and particularly PCBs, from soil, sediment, slurry, sludge and dehalogenating the compounds contacts a contaminated soil sample with an extraction medium of a mixture of an alkane and a water miscible alcohol. The organic compounds dissolve in the extraction medium which is separated from the soil by passing water upwardly through the soil. The extraction medium floats to the surface of the water and is separated. Thereafter, the extraction medium containing the halogenated organic contaminants is subjected to ionizing radiation to radiolytically dehalogenate the compounds.

Process for the solvent extraction for the radiolysis and dehalogenation of halogenated organic compounds in soils, sludges, sediments and slurries

A process of extracting halogenated organic compounds, and particularly PCBs, from soil, sediment, slurry, sludge and dehalogenating the compounds contacting a contaminated soil sample with an extraction medium of a mixture of an alkane and a water miscible alcohol. The organic compounds dissolve in the extraction medium which is separated from the soil by passing water upwardly through the soil. The extraction medium floats to the surface of the water and is separated. Thereafter, the extraction medium containing the halogenated organic contaminants is subjected to ionizing radiation to radiolytically dehalogenate the compounds.

Process for the solvent extraction for the radiolysis and dehalogenation

The invention is a process for the in-situ destruction of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds in transformer oils and transformers. These compounds are broken down selectively by irradiation of the object or mixture using spent nuclear fuel or any isotopic source of high energy gamma radiation. For example, the level of applied dose required to decompose 400 ppm of polychlorinated biphenyl in transformer oil to less than 50 ppm is 500 kilogray. Destruction of polychlorinated biphenyls to levels of less than 50 ppm renders the transformer oil or transformer non-PCB contaminated under current regulations. Therefore, this process can be used to treat PCB contaminated oil and equipment to minimize or eliminate the generation of PCB hazardous waste.

Process for gamma ray induced degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls

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Idaho Falls, ID, United States of America

Bruce J Mincher