Abstract:
Disclosed are methods of separating solute from solvent using a photoactive extractant. The photoactive extractant can be switched between two states by exposure to light. This can change the affinity of the photoactive extractant for either the solute or the solvent, causing absorption of the solute or solvent. The photoactive extractant can then be separated from the fluid stream containing the solute or solvent. The absorbed solute or solvent is then separated from the photoactive extractant. The photoactive extractant is a photoisomer. Applications for these methods include desalination, water purification, and metal extraction.
Abstract:
Methods of recovering rare earth elements, vanadium, cobalt, or lithium from coal are described. The coal is dissolved in a first solvent to dissolve organic material in the coal and create a slurry containing coal ash enriched with rare earth elements, vanadium, cobalt, or lithium. The enriched coal ash is separated from the first solvent. Residual organic material is removed from the coal ash. The rare earth elements, vanadium, cobalt, or lithium can then be recovered from the coal ash. The coal ash is mixed with an acid stream that dissolves the rare earth elements, thereby creating (i) a leachate containing the rare earth elements and (ii) leached ash. The leachate is heated to obtain acid vapor and an acid-soluble rare earth concentrate. The acid-soluble rare earth concentrate can be fed to a hydrometallurgical process to separate and purify the rare earth elements.
Abstract:
A system for recovering rare earth elements from coal ash includes a leaching reactor, an ash dryer downstream of the leaching reactor, and a roaster downstream of the ash dryer that is cooperatively connected to both the leaching reactor and the ash dryer. Coal ash is mixed with an acid stream such that rare earth elements present in the coal ash are dissolved in the acid stream, thereby creating (i) a leachate containing the rare earth elements and (ii) leached ash. The leachate is heated to obtain acid vapor and an acid-soluble rare earth concentrate. Mixing of the coal ash with the acid stream can occur in a leaching reactor and heating of the leachate can occur in a roaster. The acid-soluble rare earth concentrate can be fed to a hydrometallurgical process to separate and purify the rare earth elements.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods of separating solute from solvent using a photoactive extractant. The photoactive extractant can be switched between two states by exposure to light. This can change the affinity of the photoactive extractant for either the solute or the solvent, causing absorption of the solute or solvent. The photoactive extractant can then be separated from the fluid stream containing the solute or solvent. The absorbed solute or solvent is then separated from the photoactive extractant. The photoactive extractant is a photoisomer. Applications for these methods include desalination, water purification, and metal extraction.
Abstract:
A system for recovering rare earth elements from coal ash includes a leaching reactor, an ash dryer downstream of the leaching reactor, and a roaster downstream of the ash dryer that is cooperatively connected to both the leaching reactor and the ash dryer. Coal ash is mixed with an acid stream such that rare earth elements present in the coal ash are dissolved in the acid stream, thereby creating (i) a leachate containing the rare earth elements and (ii) leached ash. The leachate is heated to obtain acid vapor and an acid-soluble rare earth concentrate. Mixing of the coal ash with the acid stream can occur in a leaching reactor and heating of the leachate can occur in a roaster. The acid-soluble rare earth concentrate can be fed to a hydrometallurgical process to separate and purify the rare earth elements.
Abstract:
The invention provides an efficient method to treating a nutrient rich process water, such as municipal, agricultural, and/or farm water. The process water is treated by first extracting one or more P- and/or N-based ionic species from the process water with an extractant phase, resulting in an ion-loaded extractant phase; and then stripping one or more ionic species from the ion-loaded extractant phase to obtain a stripped extractant phase and useful concentrated ionic products. The stripped extractant phase is preferably recycled. A continuous flow treatment process is provided. The process is also capable of inactivating pathogens and reducing odors.
Abstract:
A system for recovering rare earth elements from coal ash includes a leaching reactor, an ash dryer downstream of the leaching reactor, and a roaster downstream of the ash dryer that is cooperatively connected to both the leaching reactor and the ash dryer. Coal ash is mixed with an acid stream such that rare earth elements present in the coal ash are dissolved in the acid stream, thereby creating (i) a leachate containing the rare earth elements and (ii) leached ash. The leachate is heated to obtain acid vapor and an acid-soluble rare earth concentrate. Mixing of the coal ash with the acid stream can occur in a leaching reactor and heating of the leachate can occur in a roaster. The acid-soluble rare earth concentrate can be fed to a hydrometallurgical process to separate and purify the rare earth elements.
Abstract:
Methods of recovering rare earth elements, vanadium, cobalt, or lithium from coal are described. The coal is dissolved in a first solvent to dissolve organic material in the coal and create a slurry containing coal ash enriched with rare earth elements, vanadium, cobalt, or lithium. The enriched coal ash is separated from the first solvent. Residual organic material is removed from the coal ash. The rare earth elements, vanadium, cobalt, or lithium can then be recovered from the coal ash. The coal ash is mixed with an acid stream that dissolves the rare earth elements, thereby creating (i) a leachate containing the rare earth elements and (ii) leached ash. The leachate is heated to obtain acid vapor and an acid-soluble rare earth concentrate. The acid-soluble rare earth concentrate can be fed to a hydrometallurgical process to separate and purify the rare earth elements.