Methods and systems for separating metals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11839832-B2
Application number	US-202318134803-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2023
Priority date	Mar 4, 2020
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

Methods and systems for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature to produce a first vapor including the first metal. The first vapor can be condensed in a condensation zone to produce a first liquid including the first metal, and the first liquid can be collected. The system can include a separation unit include a heating zone in fluid communication with a condensation zone and a means for applying solar energy to heat a metal-containing feed stream disposed in the heating zone.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream, the system comprising:
a. a separation unit comprising a heating zone to heat the metal-containing feed stream to a first temperature to produce a first vapor comprising the first metal and a condensation zone for condensing the first vapor to produce a first liquid comprising the first metal, wherein the heating zone is in fluid communication with the condensation zone;
b. a solar energy source able to heat the heating zone; and
c. the metal-containing feed stream disposed inside the separation unit, wherein the metal-containing feed stream is derived from black sands.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the solar energy source able to heat the heating zone comprises a parabolic mirror to reflect sunlight onto the heating zone, a solar oven, or one or more mirrors organized into one or more heliostats.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more mirrors are arrayed to reflect sunlight to a focal vertex, and wherein the heating zone is disposed at the focal vertex.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the focal vertex is disposed at least about 5 meters above the top of a tallest mirror of the one or more mirrors.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing feed stream is in a liquid state or a solid state.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing feed stream further comprises a second metal, which does not substantially vaporize at the first temperature.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first metal and the second metal are independently selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a basic metal, and a semi metal.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the alkali metal comprises Na, K, or Rb, the alkaline earth metal comprises Be, Mg, Ca, or Sr, the transition metal comprises Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, or Hg, the basic metal comprises Al, Ga, or In, and the semi metal comprises Si, Ge, As, or Sb.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first metal is Cu.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first metal is Pt or Pd.

Assignees

• Nant Holdings Ip Llc

Inventors

• Soon-Shiong Patrick

Classifications

• B01D1/0035 Primary

  Solar energy (for treatment of water C02F1/14) · CPC title

• B01D3/009

  in combination with chemical reactions · CPC title

• B01D5/006

  with evaporation or distillation · CPC title

• B01D5/009

  Collecting, removing and/or treatment of the condensate · CPC title

• C22B9/02

  Refining by liquating, filtering, centrifuging, distilling, or supersonic wave action {including acoustic waves; (C22B9/003, C22B9/006, C22B9/05, C22B9/22 take precedence)} · CPC title