Methods of recovering an elemental rare earth metal, and methods of forming a rare earth metal
US11788171B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 2021 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC25D3/665
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of recovering an elemental rare earth metal comprises placing a rare earth-containing material comprising a rare earth metal in a reaction solution comprising a reducing agent and a non-aqueous solvent comprising an ionic liquid or a eutectic mixture, reducing the rare earth metal with the reducing agent to form a metallic rare earth metal and cations of the reducing agent, transferring the cations of the reducing agent from the reaction solution to an electrochemical cell through an ion exchange membrane, and reducing the cations of the reducing agent in the electrochemical cell. Related methods of forming an elemental rare earth metal, and related systems are disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.