Rare earth oxide to rare earth extraction apparatus and method of use thereof
US11643706B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 2019 |
| Grant date | May 9, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC22B5/12
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for generating a rare earth from a rare earth oxide, comprising the sequential steps of: (1) reducing temperature about the rare earth oxide to less than zero degrees Celsius; (2) reducing pressure to boil off contaminant water in a powder sample of the rare earth oxide at a molecular escape velocity not disturbing the powdered rare earth oxide; and (3) heating the rare earth oxide to greater than 1000° C. in the presence hydrogen gas while optionally: (1) collecting and determining mass of a water product to determine a consumption mass of the starting hydrogen gas in a main reaction process using the equation RE2O3+3H2→2RE+3H2O, wherein “RE” comprises at a rare earth and (2) injecting replacement hydrogen gas into the main reaction chamber up to the consumption mass.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.