The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 07, 2026
Filed:
Jun. 22, 2022
Consolidated Nuclear Security, Llc, Oak Ridge, TN (US);
Justin M. Holland, Clinton, TN (US);
Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US);
Abstract
A process and apparatus for producing a metal (RE) from a metal oxide (REOx). The method includes introducing the REOx and a reductant into a molten alkali and/or alkaline earth metal chloride salt phase in an oxide reductant compartment (ORC) of a partitioned process vessel. A tray containing the REOx in the ORC is reciprocated in contact with the salt phase and a molten metal collection pool phase below the salt phase. Metal formed by the reductant is induced to move through the molten metal collection pool phase from the ORC to a recovery and purification compartment (RPC) on an opposite side of a partition of the process vessel. A mixture of alkali and/or alkaline earth chloride salt containing from about 1 to about 10 wt. % chloride salt of the metal (RE) being produced is electrolyzed in the RPC. Metal produced on a cathode in the RPC is recovered.