Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods for generating selected materials from a natural brine, where the natural brine is sea water, saline water, fresh water, synthetic solutions, or industrial liquid wastes. A natural brine comprising at least a portion of a selected material is heated. CO2 is added and mixes with the natural brine forming a mixture such that the CO2/P is a first predetermined value. The mixture is held so that impurities in the natural brine precipitate as solids leaving a second brine substantially comprising the selected material. The second brine is heated. CO2 gas is injected into the second brine, mixing so that the CO2/P is a second predetermined value. The mixture is held so that the selected material precipitates out and are removed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for concentrating rare earth elements (REEs) from a coal byproduct. The method includes mixing the coal byproduct input with aluminum phosphate, sulfur and/or other compounds used as an additive; heating the coal byproduct input in air for a period of 3 minutes or longer at a temperature above a liquid starting temperature of the coal byproduct input, forming a molten coal byproduct; cooling the molten coal byproduct at a rate slower than critical glass transition cooling rate of the melt, forming REE phosphate product; heating the coal byproduct input above the liquid starting temperature of the coal byproduct after REE phosphate product is formed; and cooling the coal byproduct input at a rate faster than the critical glass transition cooling rate of the melt, minimizing forming unwanted solids.

Abstract: A single-heating stage method for reclaiming or recovering metals like nickel and vanadium from a petroleum waste byproduct has three steps: melting the petroleum waste byproduct in a reducing atmosphere, generating agglomerated metal in the melted byproduct, and lifting the agglomerated metal to an exposed surface of the melted byproduct. The metal precipitates out of the molten byproduct, agglomerates into a separate portion, and rises to an exposed surface of the melted petroleum waste byproduct even though the metal may have greater density than the molten petroleum waste byproduct. The original petroleum waste byproduct stratifies into a byproduct remnant and the agglomerated metal disk. The agglomerated metal disk is separable from the byproduct remnant and may be additionally separated into constituent metals in those embodiments with multiple metals in the disk.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods, systems And apparatus tor generating lithium from brine. The brine is heated in a first vessel to greater than 260° C. and CO2 gas is injected mixing with the brine such that the CO2/P is greater than 18 g/atm. The brine is held at greater than 18 g/atm for longer than 20 minutes so that any impurities precipitate as solids leaving only lithium ions and chlorine ions. The brine is moved to a second vessel screening out solid precipitates leaving a brine containing only chlorine and lithium. CO2 gas is injected and mixed with the brine at 260° C. so that the CO2/P is greater than 200 g/atm. The brine is held at greater than 200 g/atm for longer than 20 minutes suppressing the chlorine as dissolved ions while lithium precipitates out as lithium carbonate. The lithium carbonate precipitate is removed from the brine solution.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for concentrating rare earth elements (REEs) from a coal byproduct. The method includes mixing the coal byproduct input with aluminum phosphate, sulfur and/or other compounds used as an additive; heating the coal byproduct input in air for a period of 3 minutes or longer at a temperature above a liquid starting temperature of the coal byproduct input, forming a molten coal byproduct; cooling the molten coal byproduct at a rate slower than critical glass transition cooling rate of the melt, forming REE phosphate product; heating the coal byproduct input above the liquid starting temperature of the coal byproduct after REE phosphate product is formed; and cooling the coal byproduct input at a rate faster than the critical glass transition cooling rate of the melt, minimizing forming unwanted solids.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods, systems And apparatus tor generating lithium from brine. The brine is heated in a first vessel to greater than 260° C. and CO2 gas is injected mixing with the brine such that the CO2/P is greater than 18 g/atm. The brine is held at greater than 18 g/atm for longer than 20 minutes so that any impurities precipitate as solids leaving only lithium ions and chlorine ions. The brine is moved to a second vessel screening out solid precipitates leaving a brine containing only chlorine and lithium. CO2 gas is injected and mixed with the brine at 260° C. so that the CO2/P is greater than 200 g/atm. The brine is held at greater than 200 g/atm for longer than 20 minutes suppressing the chlorine as dissolved ions while lithium precipitates out as lithium carbonate. The lithium carbonate precipitate is removed from the brine solution.

Abstract: A single-heating stage method for reclaiming or recovering metals like nickel and vanadium from a petroleum waste byproduct has three steps: melting the petroleum waste byproduct in a reducing atmosphere, generating agglomerated metal in the melted byproduct, and lifting the agglomerated metal to an exposed surface of the melted byproduct. The metal precipitates out of the molten byproduct, agglomerates into a separate portion, and rises to an exposed surface of the melted petroleum waste byproduct even though the metal may have greater density than the molten petroleum waste byproduct. The original petroleum waste byproduct stratifies into a byproduct remnant and the agglomerated metal disk. The agglomerated metal disk is separable from the byproduct remnant and may be additionally separated into constituent metals in those embodiments with multiple metals in the disk.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for enriching an inlet air stream utilizing a number of enrichment sub-units connected in series, where each enrichment sub-unit conducts both a dissolution and degasification cycle. Each enrichment sub-unit comprises a compressor, an aeration unit, a deaeration unit, and a pump for the recirculation of water between the aeration and deaeration units. The methodology provides a manner in which the relationship between the respective Henry's coefficients of the oxygen and nitrogen in water may be exploited to enrich the O2 volume percent and diminish the N2 volume percent over repeated dissolution and degasification cycles. By utilizing a number of enrichment sub-units connected in series, the water contained in each enrichment sub-unit acts to progressively increase the O2 volume percent. Additional enrichment sub-units may be added and utilized until the O2 volume percent equals or exceeds a target O2 volume percent.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for regenerating and recirculating a CO, H2 or combinations thereof utilized for metal oxide reduction in a reduction furnace. The reduction furnace receives the reducing agent, reduces the metal oxide, and generates an exhaust of the oxidized product. The oxidized product is transferred to a mixing vessel, where the oxidized product, a calcium oxide, and a vanadium oxide interact to regenerate the reducing agent from the oxidized product. The regenerated reducing agent is transferred back to the reduction furnace for continued metal oxide reductions.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods of operating a slagging gasifier using a carbon feedstock having a relatively high V2O5 to SiO2 ratio, such as petcoke. The disclosure generates a combined chemical composition in the feed mixture having less than 25 wt. % SiO2, greater than 20 wt. % V2O5, and greater than 20 wt. % CaO. The method takes advantage of a novel recognition that increased levels of SiO2 tend to decrease dissolution of the V2O3 which forms under the reducing conditions of the gasifier, and utilizes the CaO additive to establish a chemical phase equilibria comprised of lower melting compounds. The method further provides for control based on the presence of Al2O3 and FeO, and provides for a total combined chemical composition of greater than about 5 wt. % MgO for use with refractory linings comprised of MgO based refractory brick.