University of California

Los Alamos National Security, LLC

Triad National Security, LLC

Robert Patrick Currier

Dwain F Spencer

David James Devlin

Hakim Boukhalfa

Stephen J Obrey

Artaches Migdissov

Andrew Strzelecki

Jose Maria Sansinena

The present disclosure provides system and method embodiments for extracting and separating rare earth elements (REEs) from various starting materials and sources. The system and method embodiments disclosed herein facilitate efficient REE extraction, separation, and/or isolation, even when the REEs are present in a starting material at a relatively low level compared to undesirable metals co-present in the starting material. In at least some examples, the disclosed system and method embodiments may be used to recover one or more REEs from coal derived acid mine drainage.

System and method embodiments for element extraction and separation

Gases are stored, separated, and/or concentrated. An electric field is applied across a porous dielectric adsorbent material. A gas component from a gas mixture may be selectively separated inside the energized dielectric. Gas is stored in the energized dielectric for as long as the dielectric is energized. The energized dielectric selectively separates, or concentrates, a gas component of the gas mixture. When the potential is removed, gas from inside the dielectric is released.

Gas storage and separation by electric field swing adsorption

Water purification using organic salts. Feed water is mixed with at least one organic salt at a temperature sufficiently low to form organic salt hydrate crystals and brine. The crystals are separated from the brine, rinsed, and melted to form an aqueous solution of organic salt. Some of the water is removed from the aqueous organic salt solution. The purified water is collected, and the remaining more concentrated aqueous organic salt solution is reused.

Water purification using organic salts

Methods are provided for the selective removal of CO from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO depleted gaseous stream having at least a reduction, e.g. 30 to 90%, in the concentration of CO relative to the untreated multicomponent gaseous stream. In practicing the subject methods, the multicomponent gaseous stream is contacted with an aqueous fluid, e.g. CO nucleated water, under conditions of selective CO clathrate formation to produce a CO clathrate slurry and CO depleted gaseous stream. A feature of the subject invention is that a CO hydrate promoter is employed, where the CO hydrate promoter is included in the multicomponent gaseous stream and/or the aqueous fluid. The CO hydrate promoter serves to reduce the minimum CO partial pressure required for hydrate formation as compared to a control. The subject methods find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO from a multicomponent gaseous stream.

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Santa Fe, NM, United States of America

Robert Patrick Currier