Concentrating rare earth elements from coal waste
US11123772B2 · kind B2 · utility
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18Claims
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Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 2019 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB07C5/368
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Differences in x-ray absorption coefficients and ash content are used to process coal waste and concentrate rare earth elements (REE) found in coal seams. A method for processing the coal waste includes receiving, by a detector, at least one collimated x-ray beam from an x-ray source that has been passed through a sample of coal waste; determining measurements of at least one x-ray absorption characteristic of the sample based on the received at least one collimated x-ray beam; and identifying a first region in the sample having a concentration of rare earth elements based on the measured x-ray absorption characteristic.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.