Rare Earth Metal (at. No. 21, 39, Or 57-71) Patents (Class 423/21.1)
  • Patent number: 8920773
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, leaching the roasted metal hearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution, conditioning the pregnant leach solution to thrill a preprocessed metal bearing material; and leaching the preprocessed metal bearing material in acid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Freeport Minerals Corporation
    Inventors: Joanna M. Robertson, Thomas R. Bolles, Wayne W. Hazen, Lawrence D. May, Jay C. Smith, David R. Baughman
  • Publication number: 20140369904
    Abstract: There are provided processes for preparing alumina. These processes can comprise leaching an aluminum-containing material with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising aluminum ions and a solid, and separating said solid from said leachate; reacting said leachate with HCl so as to obtain a liquid and a precipitate comprising said aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3, and separating said precipitate from said liquid; and heating said precipitate under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. These processes can also be used for preparing various other products such as hematite, MgO, silica and oxides of various metals, sulphates and chlorides of various metals, as well as rare earth elements, rare metals and aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Boudreault, Joeel Fournier, Denis Primeau, Marie-Maxime Labrecque-Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20140356258
    Abstract: A method for separating and recovering a plurality of rare-earth elements, the method including a step of introducing, into a liquid, a mixture containing a rare-earth oxychloride and a rare-earth chloride, the rare-earth oxychloride constituted from a rare-earth element different from a rare-earth element constituting the rare-earth chloride, thereby obtaining an insoluble matter containing the rare-earth oxychloride and a liquid in which the rare-earth chloride is dissolved, a step of recovering the rare-earth oxychloride from the insoluble matter, and a step of recovering the rare-earth chloride from the liquid in which the rare-earth chloride is dissolved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Miyata, Hiroki Yamamoto, Hiroshi Sasaki, Toshio Yasuda, Katsuyoshi Furusawa
  • Patent number: 8894733
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for recycling a cerium oxide abrasive. The method may include adding a strong alkali solution to a slurry waste of the cerium oxide abrasive, adding sodium fluoride to the slurry waste, and separating a cerium oxide particle included in the slurry waste from other kinds of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-Jae Moon, Sang-Oeb Na, Hyung-Young Oh
  • Patent number: 8888892
    Abstract: A method for separating nickel, cobalt and a rare earth element from a material containing positive and negative electrode active materials of a nickel-metal hydride battery includes mixing a material containing positive and negative electrode active materials with a sulfuric acid solution and dissolving therein, and then separating a leachate from a residue; adding an alkali metal sulfate to the leachate to obtain a mixed precipitate of double sulfate of rare earth elements, and a rare-earth-element-free solution; and adding a sulfurizing agent to the rare-earth-element-free solution to separate a nickel and cobalt sulfide raw material and a residual solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoko Kikuta, Satoshi Asano, Masatoshi Takano
  • Publication number: 20140322107
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for recovering a rare earth element, which is capable of efficiently recovering a rare earth element with high recovery rate without using any expensive chemicals, solvents or the like. In the present invention, a water-soluble salt other than sulfate ions is allowed to coexist with an aqueous solution that contains a rare earth element, and then an alkali metal sulfate is added to the aqueous solution, thereby producing a precipitate of a double sulfate of the rare earth element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Kazunari Maeba, Yukie Kawakami, Keiji Kudo, Masatoshi Takano, Hitoshi Ishida, Satoshi Asano, Masahiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140314639
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for recovering scandium from scandium-containing intermediate products, formed during hydrometallurgical processing of scandium-containing feed materials, including: (a) leaching of the scandium-containing intermediate products with a suitable acid at a controlled pH selected to maximize scandium extraction and minimize the co-extraction of impurities, (b) solid/liquid separation, to obtain a scandium-containing leach solution; (c) selective precipitation of the scandium at a controlled pH from the scandium-containing leach solution using a suitable base, (d) solid/liquid separation, to obtain an upgraded scandium concentrate and a barren solution for return to the hydrometallurgical process. A further upgraded scandium concentrate can be obtained by (e) alkaline leaching of the upgraded scandium concentrate for additional removal of impurities, and (f) solid/liquid separation to obtain a further upgraded scandium concentrate and impurities-containing base solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Indje MIHAYLOV, Ryan PETERSON, Avinash SINGHAL, Christopher MASSEY
  • Patent number: 8851950
    Abstract: Improved recyclability of phosphors in fluorescent lamps is provided. A fluorescent lamp is constructed with phosphor particles having a specific surface area less than a certain predetermined value. During recycling, these phosphor particles are more readily separated from the basing cement used in such fluorescent lamp. A method is also provided by which such phosphors are more readily separated from the basing cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jon Bennett Jansma, David James Monk
  • Patent number: 8821817
    Abstract: A method is described to produce high purity rare earth oxides of the elements La, Ce, Tb, Eu and Y from phosphor, such as waste phosphor powders originating in various consumer products. One approach involves leaching the powder in two stages and converting to two groups of relatively high purity mixed rare earth oxides. The first group containing Eu and Y is initially separated by solvent extraction. Once separated, Eu is purified using Zn reduction with custom apparatus. Y is purified by running another solvent extraction process using tricaprylmethylammonium chloride. Ce is separated from the second group of oxides, containing La, Ce and Tb by using solvent extraction. Subsequently, La and Tb are separated from each other and converted to pure oxides by using solvent extraction processes. A one-stage leaching process, wherein all rare earths get leached into the solution and subsequently processed, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: REEnewal Corporation
    Inventor: Narayan V. Thakur
  • Patent number: 8808660
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of precipitation of metal ions. Mineral(s), oxide(s), hydroxide(s) of magnesium and/or calcium are adopted as raw materials, and the raw material(s) is processed through at least one step of calcination, slaking, or carbonization to produce aqueous solution(s) of magnesium bicarbonate and/or calcium bicarbonate, and then the solution(s) is used as precipitant(s) to deposit rare earth, such as nickel, cobalt, iron, aluminum, gallium, indium, manganese, cadmium, zirconium, hafnium, strontium, barium, copper and zinc ions. And at least one of metal carbonates, hydroxides or basic carbonates is obtained, or furthermore the obtained products are calcined to produce metal oxides. The invention takes the cheap calcium and/or magnesium minerals or their oxides, hydroxides with low purity as raw materials to instead common precipitants such as ammonium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Grirem Advanced Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaowei Huang, Zhiqi Long, Hongwei Li, Dali Cui, Xinlin Peng, Guilin Yang, Yongke Hou, Chunmei Wang, Shunli Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140186239
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for recovering a rare earth element from a workpiece containing at least a rare earth element and an iron group element, which can be put into practical use as a low-cost, simple recycling system. The method of the present invention as a means for resolution is characterized by including at least a step of separating a rare earth element in the form of an oxide from an iron group element by subjecting a workpiece to an oxidation treatment, then turning the treatment environment into an environment where carbon is present, and subjecting the oxidation-treated workpiece to a heat treatment at a temperature of 1150° C. or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hoshi, Atsushi Kikugawa
  • Publication number: 20140154155
    Abstract: Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which organic amine-based lixiviants are utilized in the selective recovery of rare earth elements. The lixiviant can be regenerated in situ, permitting the organic amine to be used in substoichiometric amounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Lixivia, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Wyrsta, Zachary J.A. Komon
  • Patent number: 8728418
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a metal hydroxide fine particle, which can produce metal hydroxide fine particles with favorable crystallinity and small particle sizes. The present invention provides a method for producing a metal hydroxide fine particle by reacting a metal ion with a hydroxide ion in a solvent, which includes a mixing and reacting step of supplying the metal ion, the hydroxide ion, and a silane coupling agent to a reaction field to mix and react the ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Miyoshi, Makoto Koike, Yasunori Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8727833
    Abstract: A cerium based particle composition comprises: 50-90% by weight of cerium oxide, and at least 10% by weight of lanthanum oxide. The method to prepare the particle composition comprises: one or more water soluble salts of transition metal elements and/or alkaline metal elements are mixed with CeLaCl3 solution; the mixed solution is precipitated with carbonate(s) and/or hydroxide(s) to obtain rare earth carbonate(s) doped by said one or more transition metal elements and/or alkaline metal elements; the carbonate(s) is calcined and crushed to obtain the said particle composition. The said composition can be mixed with water, optionally at the presence of additive(s), in order to obtain an abrasive for polishing glass for liquid crystal display and hard recording medium, particularly in the use of polishing glass substrate industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Rhodia (China) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aimin Huang, Zhuohua Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140110626
    Abstract: Methods for removing, reducing or treating the trace metal contaminants and the smaller fine sized cerium oxide particles from cerium oxide particles, cerium oxide slurry or chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) compositions for Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) process are applied. The treated chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) compositions, or the CMP polishing compositions prepared by using the treated cerium oxide particles or the treated cerium oxide slurry are used to polish substrate that contains at lease a surface comprising silicon dioxide film for STI (Shallow trench isolation) processing and applications. The reduced nano-sized particle related defects have been observed due to the reduced trace metal ion contaminants and reduced very smaller fine cerium oxide particles in the Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) CMP polishing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS INC.
    Inventors: Xiaobo Shi, John Edward Quincy Hughes, Hongjun Zhou, Daniel Hernandez Castillo, II, Jae Ouk Choo, James Allen Schlueter, Jo-Ann Teresa Schwartz, Laura Ledenbach, Steven Charles Winchester, Saifi Usmani, John Anthony Marsella
  • Publication number: 20140072486
    Abstract: A method is provided for recovering phosphor materials from fluorescent lamps. Particles created from the lamps are washed by mixing with water and carboxylic (e.g., acetic) acid while controlling the temperature. The carboxylic acid reacts with basing cement, particularly calcium carbonate, without significant reaction with the phosphors. After this reaction, the phosphors can be removed and e.g., reused in the production of fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Jon Bennett Jansma
  • Publication number: 20140044616
    Abstract: The invention deals with a method for precipitating at least one solute in a reactor comprising: a) a step in which a first liquid phase comprising the solute and a second liquid phase comprising a solute precipitation reagent are brought into contact in co-current in a reactor, as a result of which an emulsion mix is obtained comprising precipitate particles in suspension, and a third liquid phase forming a dispersing phase for said emulsion mix; and b) a step in which the mix mentioned in step a) is fluidised by the third phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Romain Picard, Jean Duhamet, Denis Ode
  • Publication number: 20140023571
    Abstract: An acid treatment, in a liquid medium, of a solid containing a halophosphate and a rare earth compound is described. Further described, is the addition of a base to the medium obtained previously and separation of a solid phase from a liquid phase; mixing and calcination of the solid obtained previously with an alkaline solid compound; redispersing the calcined product in water, separation of the solid product from the suspension obtained in the preceding step; dispersing this solid in water and acidification of the dispersion and separation of the solid from this dispersion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Rhodia Operations
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Braconnier, Alain Rollat
  • Patent number: 8628734
    Abstract: Method of recovery of rare earths from fluorescent lamps. The method comprises six steps. The individual process steps are: Mechanical separation of coarse components. Separation of the halophosphate. Extraction in acids of easily soluble rare-earth fluorescent substances (mainly Y, Eu-oxide) Extraction in acids of rare earth fluorescent substances which dissolve with difficulty (for example rare-earth phosphates) Breakdown of the remaining components which contain rare earths (for example rare-earth-aluminates) Final treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Robert Otto, Agnieszka Wojtalewicz-Kasprzak
  • Patent number: 8623301
    Abstract: The present invention provides solid oxide fuel cells, solid oxide electrolyzer cells, solid oxide sensors, components of any of the foregoing, and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, a solid oxide fuel cell comprises an air electrode (or cathode), a fuel electrode (or anode), an electrolyte interposed between the air electrode and the fuel electrode, and at least one electrode-electrolyte transition layer. Other embodiments provide novel methods of producing nano-scale films and/or surface modifications comprising one or more metal oxides to form ultra-thin (yet fully-dense) electrolyte layers and electrode coatings. Such layers and coatings may provide greater ionic conductivity and increased operating efficiency, which may lead to lower manufacturing costs, less-expensive materials, lower operating temperatures, smaller-sized fuel cells, electrolyzer cells, and sensors, and a greater number of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: C3 International, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Deininger, Mikhail Pozvonkov, Paul Fisher, Leonid V. Budaragin, D. Morgan Spears
  • Publication number: 20130336856
    Abstract: It is described a method for recovering rare earth elements from low grade ores including a first metal selected group containing at least one of iron and aluminum and a second metal selected from the group consisting of at least of the rare earth elements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, yttrium and scandium), the method comprising the steps of: (i) contacting the ore with sulfuric acid to obtain sulfates of the first group of metals, (ii) subjecting the mixture to high temperatures in order to convert the first group of sulfates into phosphates or other stable species and the second group into sulfates, (iii) adding water to the cool mixture, selectively dissolving the rare earth elements and (iv) subjecting the rare earth solution to a purification process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: VALE S/A
  • Publication number: 20130309150
    Abstract: A method is described to produce high purity rare earth oxides of the elements La, Ce, Tb, Eu and Y from phosphor, such as waste phosphor powders originating in various consumer products. One approach involves leaching the powder in two stages and converting to two groups of relatively high purity mixed rare earth oxides. The first group containing Eu and Y is initially separated by solvent extraction. Once separated, Eu is purified using Zn reduction with custom apparatus. Y is purified by running another solvent extraction process using tricaprylmethylammonium chloride. Ce is separated from the second group of oxides, containing La, Ce and Tb by using solvent extraction. Subsequently, La and Tb are separated from each other and converted to pure oxides by using solvent extraction processes. A one-stage leaching process, wherein all rare earths get leached into the solution and subsequently processed, is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: REEnewal Corporation
    Inventor: Narayan V. Thakur
  • Patent number: 8524176
    Abstract: A method is described to produce high purity rare earth oxides of the elements La, Ce, Tb, Eu and Y from phosphor, such as waste phosphor powders originating in various consumer products. One approach involves leaching the powder in two stages and converting to two groups of relatively high purity mixed rare earth oxides. The first group containing Eu and Y is initially separated by solvent extraction. Once separated, Eu is purified using Zn reduction with custom apparatus. Y is purified by running another solvent extraction process using tricaprylmethylammonium chloride. Ce is separated from the second group of oxides, containing La, Ce and Tb by using solvent extraction. Subsequently, La and Tb are separated from each other and converted to pure oxides by using solvent extraction processes. A one-stage leaching process, wherein all rare earths get leached into the solution and subsequently processed, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: REEnewal Corporation
    Inventor: Narayan V. Thakur
  • Patent number: 8512654
    Abstract: A method for synthesizing strontium cerate (SrCeO3) nanoparticles is disclosed. Initially, ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate ((NH4)2Ce(NO3)6) and n-butanol (C4H10O) are reacted to synthesize cerium-n-butoxide (Ce(OBu)4). Next, the cerium-n-butoxide, strontium acetate (Sr(CH3COO)2), and stearic acid (C18H36O2) are reacted to form a homogenous product including the strontium cerate nanoparticles. Finally, the strontium cerate nanoparticles are isolated from the homogenous product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Pooya Nano Powders Research Group
    Inventors: Morteza Enhessari, Keyvan Ozaee, Maryam Shaterian, Elham Karamali
  • Patent number: 8501124
    Abstract: A method is described for recovering rare earth elements from a solid mixture including a halophosphate and at least one compound of one or more rare earth elements. The method includes: (a) acid etching the mixture; (b) adding a base to bring the pH back up to a value of at least 1.5; (c) etching the solid from step (b) with a solution of soda or potash; (d) acid etching the solid from step (c) until a pH of less than 7 is obtained, resulting in a solid phase and a liquid phase including at least one rare earth salt, and separating the solid phase from the liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Rhodia Operations
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Braconnier, Alain Rollat
  • Publication number: 20130189170
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to methods for yttrium recovery from articles. More specifically, the disclosure relates to methods for recovering yttrium from casting waste components and slurries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David James MONK, Jeffrey L. SCHWORM
  • Publication number: 20130190526
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering lanthanoid catalyst from the preparation of aspartic acid diethoxy succinate comprising contacting a carbonate source with a solution containing lanthanoid ions derived from said preparation and a chelating agent different from aspartic acid diethoxy succinate to precipitate lanthanoid carbonate followed by separating the precipitated lanthanoid carbonate from the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Reijo Aksela, Jussi Rissanen
  • Patent number: 8486354
    Abstract: A method for extracting rare earth elements from monazite is disclosed. The method includes milling a mixture of monazite including phosphates and rare earth elements and sodium hydroxides inside a mill containing a plurality of balls to form powder by colliding the mixture into balls with each other, converting the mixture into rare earth hydroxides and sodium phosphates through the reaction occurring in the process of repeated collision, and extracting rare earth elements from the powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)
    Inventors: Hee-Young Shin, Whan-Tae Kim, In-Kook Bae, Soo-Chun Chae
  • Publication number: 20130171047
    Abstract: A method is presented for recovery, in reusable form, of rare earth minerals and zirconia from waste materials containing them. The method includes: mixing an ammonium sulfate powder and a powder containing the oxide waste material; heating the mixture to decompose the waste into a residue; dissolving the residue in water; separating rare earth constituents from the solution; and subsequently using the separated rare earth constituent (salt or solution) as a raw material. Moreover, the reactants used in the recovery may be recovered by appropriate precipitation and concentration operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Burlingame, Samuel Burlingame
  • Patent number: 8470270
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for recovering rare earth elements, in particular, from phosphogypsum. The claimed method comprises acidic extraction of rare earth elements from phosphogypsum using sulfuric acid-nitric acid mixture solution at 3.2-1.2 ratio with concentration of 1-3% by weight and at liquids-solids ratio of 4-5 within 8-12 minutes with simultaneous hydroacoustic action on the extraction suspension agent being mixed succeeded by separation of insoluble gypsum from extraction suspension agent and by recovery of rare earth elements from extraction solution using cation-exchange sorption by passing the latter through cation-exchange filter. The claimed method allows both to increase the recovery rate of rare earth elements and to reduce by half the time of the process accomplished at lower concentrations and with smaller volumes of acidic reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Twin Trading Company
    Inventors: Yakov Kuzmich Abramov, Vladimir Mihailovich Veselov, Viktor Mihailovich Zalevsky, Nikolay Dmitrievich argunov, Lidija Petrovna Bogdanova, Nikolay Aleksandrovich Gukasov, Vladimir Dmitrievich Evdokimov, Vitaly Grigorevich Tamurka, Ljubov Viktorovna Motovilova
  • Patent number: 8470271
    Abstract: A process for chlorinating ore, slag, mill scale, scrap, dust and other resources containing recoverable metals from the groups 4-6, 8-12, and 14 in the periodic table. The process comprises: a) forming a liquid fused salt melt consisting essentially of aluminum chloride and at least one other metal chloride selected from the group consisting of alkali metal chlorides and alkaline earth metal chlorides, wherein the aluminum chloride content in the liquid salt melt exceeds 10% by weight; b) introducing the recoverable metal resources into said liquid salt melt: c) reacting the aluminum chloride as chlorine donor with said recoverable metal resource to form metal chlorides, which are dissolved in the salt melt; and d) recovering the formed metal chlorides from the salt melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Salt Extraction Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Seshadri Seetharaman, Olle Grinder
  • Publication number: 20130156660
    Abstract: A method is described to produce high purity rare earth oxides of the elements La, Ce, Tb, Eu and Y from phosphor, such as waste phosphor powders originating in various consumer products. One approach involves leaching the powder in two stages and converting to two groups of relatively high purity mixed rare earth oxides. The first group containing Eu and Y is initially separated by solvent extraction. Once separated, Eu is purified using Zn reduction with custom apparatus. Y is purified by running another solvent extraction process using tricaprylmethylammonium chloride. Ce is separated from the second group of oxides, containing La, Ce and Tb by using solvent extraction. Subsequently, La and Tb are separated from each other and converted to pure oxides by using solvent extraction processes. A one-stage leaching process, wherein all rare earths get leached into the solution and subsequently processed, is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: REENEWAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: REENEWAL CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8454912
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an radioisotope adsorbent including a bifunctional organosilane compound, including an organosiloxane functional group and a phosphate group, bonded on the surface of silica which is a bone structure of the adsorbent, and a method of preparing the radioisotope adsorbent, and a strontium/yttrium generator using the radioisotope adsorbent. Since the radioisotope adsorbent has a high adsorption capacity for 90Y such as 95% extraction efficiency or more from ICi 90Sr/90Y by using a column packed with 0.4 g of the adsorbent with a high-purity of 90Y, it can be usefully to be employed in the fields requiring 90Y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventors: Jun Sig Lee, Hyon-Soo Han, Ul-Jae Park, Kyung-Duk Jang, Hyeon-Young Shin, Soon-Bog Hong, Kwang-Jae Son
  • Patent number: 8436052
    Abstract: Formulations useful for preparing hydrous cerium oxide gels contain a metal salt including cerium, an organic base, and a complexing agent. Methods for preparing gels containing hydrous cerium oxide include heating a formulation to a temperature sufficient to induce gel formation, where the formulation contains a metal salt including cerium, an organic base, and a complexing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventors: Jack L. Collins, Anthony Chi
  • Patent number: 8435472
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing at least one nano-structured material of formula M1M2Xn comprising the step of treating: at least one compound having the formula [CX3(CX2)n(CH2)mCOO]pM1; and at least one compound having the formula [CX3(CX2)n(CH2)mCOO]pM2; wherein each X is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of: halogens, O, S, Se, Te, N, P and As; each n is the same or different and is 0?n?10; each m is the same or different and is 0?m?10; each p is the same or different and is 1?p?5; each M1 is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra and NH4; each M2 is the same or different and is a metal ion. The present invention also provides uses of the nano-structured material prepared according to the method of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Guang-Shun Yi, Gan-Moog Chow
  • Publication number: 20130108526
    Abstract: A method for materials recovery from a catalyst comprising oxides of iron, cerium, molybdenum, and potassium, in which potassium and molybdenum are removed by treating the catalyst with an aqueous leachant, giving an aqueous solution S1 comprising potassium and molybdenum, and a solid residue R1 comprising cerium oxide and iron oxide, and recovering cerium in the form of a solid comprising a cerium(III) compound or cerium(IV) oxide from the solid residue R1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventor: BASF SE
  • Publication number: 20130109563
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing cerium(III) compounds which comprises the steps of a) contacting a starting composition A comprising cerium dioxide and at least one further metal oxide selected from the group consisting of iron oxide, silicon dioxide, molybdenum oxide, lanthanum oxide, magnesium oxide and calcium oxide with at least one acid S and at least one iron component E comprising iron in the oxidation state 0 and/or II at a temperature ranging from 40 to 160° C. and at a pH of not more than 2 to obtain a solution L comprising cerium in the oxidation state III; b) adding at least one basic compound C to said solution L to obtain a solid F comprising at least one cerium(III) compound; c) separating off said solid F comprising at least one cerium(III) compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventor: BASF SE
  • Patent number: 8425871
    Abstract: Methods for producing substantially single phase yttrium phosphate which exhibits the xenotime crystal structure are disclosed. The methods can be practiced without the use of high temperatures (e.g., the methods can be practiced at temperatures less than 1000° C.). The resulting yttrium phosphate can be in the form of particles which comprise interwoven strands of crystals of yttrium phosphate and/or nanoparticles prepared from such particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Sandra Lee Gray, Richard Donald Witham
  • Patent number: 8425654
    Abstract: An alteration of the traditional zinc/zinc-amalgam reduction procedure which eliminates both the hazardous mercury and dangerous hydrogen gas generation. In order to avoid the presence of water and hydrated protons in the working solution, which can oxidize Eu2+ and cause hydrogen gas production, a process utilizing methanol as the process solvent is described. While methanol presents some flammability hazard in a radiological hot cell, it can be better managed and is less of a flammability hazard than hydrogen gas generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Amanda M. Johnsen, Chuck Z. Soderquist, Bruce K. McNamara, Darrell R. Fisher
  • Patent number: 8361419
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing cerium carbonate powder by mixing a cerium precursor solution with a carbonate precursor solution to cause precipitation, wherein at least one solvent used in the cerium precursor solution and the carbonate precursor solution is an organic solvent. Cerium carbonate powder obtained from the method, cerium oxide powder obtained from the cerium carbonate powder, a method for preparing the cerium oxide powder, and CMP slurry comprising the cerium oxide powder are also disclosed. The method for preparing cerium carbonate using an organic solvent, allows the resultant cerium carbonate powder to have a size and shape controllable from the initial nucleation step. Additionally, it is possible to easily control the size and shape of cerium oxide powder obtained from the cerium carbonate powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Myoung Hwan Oh, Jun Seok Nho, Jong Pil Kim, Jang Yul Kim, Seung Beom Cho
  • Patent number: 8362869
    Abstract: A thermistor based on a composition having the general formula (I): Re2-x-yCraMnbMcEyOz wherein Re is a rare earth metal or a mixture of two or more rare earth metals, M is a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, magnesium and mixtures thereof, E is a metal selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium, barium and mixtures thereof, x is the sum of a+b+c and is a number between 0.1 and 1, and the relative ratio of the molar fractions a, b and c is in an area bounded by points A, B, C and D in a ternary diagram, wherein point A is, if y<0.006, at (Cr=0.00, Mn=0.93+10?y, M=0.07?10?y), and, if y?0.006, at (Cr=0?00, Mn=0.99, M=0.01), point B is, if y<0.006, at (Cr=0.83, Mn=0.10+10?y, M=0.07?10?y), and, if y?0.006, at (Cr=0.83, Mn=0.16, M=0.01), point C is at (Cr=0.50, Mn=0.10, M=0.40) and point D is at (Cr=0.00, Mn=0.51, M=0.49), y is a number between 0 and 0.5?x, and z is a number between 2.5 and 3.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Vishay Resistors Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: Véronique Poulain, Sophie Schuurman, André Lannoo, Frans F. Westendorp
  • Patent number: 8328893
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing oxide particles, comprising a step of mixing a metal carbonate with an acid to give a mixture, a step of heating the mixture to give a metal oxide and a step of pulverizing the metal oxide, and slurry wherein metal oxide particles obtained by the above method of producing are dispersed in an aqueous medium, a polishing slurry, and a method of polishing a substrate. Particularly, the present invention provides a polishing slurry containing cerium oxide particles obtained by using cerium carbonate as the metal carbonate material and oxalic acid as the acid. The present invention provides a method of producing oxide particles, wherein coarse particle- and abrasion powder-free fine particles can be rapidly obtained. The present invention also provides a polishing slurry using the oxide particles, which can maintain a suitable polishing rate, can reduce generation of scratches, and can accurately polish the surface of a semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Sakurada, Daisuke Hosaka, Kanshi Chinone
  • Patent number: 8329123
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a cerium oxide powder for a CMP slurry and a method of preparing a CMP slurry using the same, and more particularly, to a method of preparing a cerium oxide powder for a CMP slurry and a method of preparing a CMP slurry using the same in which the specific surface area of the powder is increased by preparing a cerium precursor, and then decomposing and calcinating the prepared cerium precursor. The pore distribution is controlled to increase the chemical contact area between a polished film and a polishing material, thereby reducing polishing time while the physical strength of powder is decreased, which remarkably reduces scratches on a polished film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem. Ltd.
    Inventors: Myoung-hwan Oh, Jun-seok Nho, Jang-yul Kim, Jong-pil Kim, Seung-beom Cho, Min-Jin Ko
  • Patent number: 8323592
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for recovering a rare earth element from a rare earth alloy, which has improved extraction efficiency of the rare earth element from the rare earth alloy, and is applicable to the extraction of various rare earth elements. The method is characterized by comprising a step of immersing the rare earth alloy in a molten salt of a halide salt to cause the elution of a halide of the rare earth element into the molten salt, or a step of reacting a rare earth alloy scrap which coexists with at least one of Fe and Cu with a metal chloride gas at a temperature of 1300 to 1800K to selectively extract the rare earth element contained in the rare earth alloy scrap as a vapor of a chloride of the rare earth element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: The Foundation for the Promotion of Industrial Science
    Inventors: Toru H. Okabe, Sakae Shirayama
  • Patent number: 8303918
    Abstract: In a method for preparing cerium carbonate powder by mixing a cerium precursor solution with a urea solution and carrying out a precipitation reaction, wherein the cerium carbonate powder has a hexagonal crystal structure, by using at least one type of organic solvent as a solvent for either or both the cerium precursor solution and the urea solution, and adjusting temperature of the precipitation reaction within a range of 120° C. to 300° C. Also, the method can yield cerium carbonate powder, cerium oxide powder from the cerium carbonate powder, and CMP slurry including the cerium oxide powder as an abrasive. In the method, urea as a precipitant can improve the uniformity of a reaction, and thus it is possible to easily and inexpensively obtain cerium carbonate powder with a hexagonal crystal structure without the danger by high-temperature high-pressure and the need for an expensive system in hydrothermal synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Myoung-Hwan Oh, Seung-Beom Cho, Jun-Seok Nho, Jong-Pil Kim, Jang-Yul Kim, Dong-Mok Shin
  • Patent number: 8263028
    Abstract: Processes described include reacting a fresh or spent catalyst, or sorbent, with a solution containing an extracting agent (such as an acid or a base). Preferably, the catalyst contains both alumina and a molecular sieve (or a sorbent), and the reaction is performed under relatively mild conditions such that the majority of the base material does not dissolve into the solution. Thus, the catalyst can be re-used, and in certain instances the catalyst performance even improves, with or without re-incorporating certain of the metals back into the catalyst. Additionally, metals contained in the catalyst, such as Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, V, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Zn Sb, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pb, or their equivalent oxides, can be removed from the catalyst. Some of the metals that are removed are relatively valuable (such as the rare earth elements of La, Ce, Pr and Nd).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Albert A. Vierheilig
  • Publication number: 20120219477
    Abstract: A method for extracting rare earth elements from monazite is disclosed. The method includes milling a mixture of monazite including phosphates and rare earth elements and sodium hydroxides inside a mill containing a plurality of balls to form powder by colliding the mixture into balls with each other, converting the mixture into rare earth hydroxides and sodium phosphates through the reaction occurring in the process of repeated collision, and extracting rare earth elements from the powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)
    Inventors: Hee-Young Shin, Whan-Tae Kim, In-Kook Bae, Soo-Chun Chae
  • Patent number: 8246717
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process of recovering AB5 and/or AB2 as well as other metals from spent nickel metal hydride batteries from a slury by a series of separation steps utilizing the screening off of larger metal particles, removal of magnetizable small metal particles from a filter and then separating AB5 and/or AB2 by passing the filtrate through a froth flotation step to separate AB5 and/or AB2 from lighter small particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toxco, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Novis Smith, Scott Swoffer
  • Publication number: 20120207656
    Abstract: A method for extracting scandium values from scandium-containing ores is provided. The method comprises (a) providing (203) an ore which contains scandium; (b) treating (205) the ore with an acid; (c) baking the ore; and (d) leaching (207) scandium from the baked ore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Willem P.C. Duyvesteyn
  • Patent number: 8216532
    Abstract: Processes described include reacting a fresh or spent catalyst, or sorbent, with a solution containing an extracting agent (such as an acid or a base). Preferably, the catalyst contains both alumina and a molecular sieve (or a sorbent), and the reaction is performed under relatively mild conditions such that the majority of the base material does not dissolve into the solution. Thus, the catalyst can be re-used, and in certain instances the performance of the catalyst even improves, with or without re-incorporating certain of the metals back into the catalyst. Additionally, metals contained in the catalyst, such as Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, V, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Zn Sb, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pb, or their equivalent oxides, can be removed from the catalyst. Some of the metals that are removed are relatively valuable (such as the rare earth elements of La, Ce, Pr and Nd).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Albert A. Vierheilig