Abstract: A system and method of improving facility performance and reliability includes the integrated use of feedstock property management, condition-based monitoring (CBM), neural network augmented predictions of the impacts of feedstock properties, and feedstock properties/plant operation databases used for machine learning applications. Sensors are used to identify feedstock properties and operating parameters throughout the facility. Understanding how feedstock properties impact facility performance over time allows the system to predict how feedstock properties will impact processing outputs so that adjustments to operating parameters may be made to improve facility performance.

Abstract: A method of midstream production of Ge and Ga from an REE extraction process is compatible with downstream industrial processes, and may produce Ge and Ga that is 90% pure as oxides, salts, or metals. A method for producing critical minerals includes vaporizing a feedstock comprising the critical minerals; cooling the vaporized feedstock to a condensation temperature of a critical mineral; and capturing the condensed critical mineral. Systems and methods disclosed herein for producing critical minerals are integrated into a rare earth extraction process to co-produce germanium and gallium concentrates.

Abstract: A system for predicting rare earth elements (REEs) in a feedstock sample includes a measurement instrument that records a measurement for a sample, a processor communicatively coupled to the measuring instrument, and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and containing machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to correlate the measurement series using a model; and predict a presence of one or more rare earth element based at least in part on the correlation. A method for predicting rare earth elements includes measuring feedstock samples via XRF or PGNAA, to generate a measurements of elements of interest with a lower atomic weight than REEs; correlating the measurements with a model; and predicting a presence of one or more rare earth elements based at least in part on the correlation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for removing and recovering metalloids from gasification systems. Also disclosed are methods for on-line removal of deposited entrained materials from a heat exchanger unit. A method is provided for on-line removal and recovery of deposits from fossil fuel gasification systems to improve plant performance and recover a valuable metalloid. Plant performance will be improved by decreasing impedance to gas flow and decreasing downtime required to clean the gas cooling system by providing an effective method to remove deposits while the gasification system is operating. In the preferred embodiment of the method, the deposits rich in condensed metals and metalloids are captured on heat transfer surfaces within the range of temperatures of about 400° C. to about 600° C., the temperature of the heat transfer surface is cycled causing the deposit to spall from the steel surface, and the deposits are removed from the gasifier without impacting gasifier operation.