Electrochemical separation and recovery of metals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12208399-B2
Application number	US-202117241520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2021
Priority date	Apr 3, 2017
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

The invention provides a novel filtration apparatus for the selective separation of metals from a mixture thereof. The invention also provides a method for the separation and isolation of metals from a sample using electrochemical precipitation.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for a separation of a metal or metal compound from a sample, the method comprising:
passing the sample into a separation apparatus comprising a conductive cathode, wherein the conductive cathode comprises a carbon nanotube;
applying an electric potential between an anode and the conductive cathode;
contacting the conductive cathode with the sample;
depositing the metal or metal compound onto the conductive cathode; and
isolating the metal or metal compound from the conductive cathode.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of separation apparatuses.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of separation apparatuses are arranged in series.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal compound comprises a metal oxide.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of adding a chemical agent to the sample.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the chemical agent comprises an acid.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the chemical agent comprises a base.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the chemical agent comprises an electron shuttle molecule.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the chemical agent comprises a chelating agent.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising steps of:
selecting the electric potential based on the metal to be deposited onto the conductive cathode; and
applying the electric potential based on the metal to be deposited onto the conductive cathode.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising contacting the conductive cathode with an acid.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising oxidizing the deposited metal or metal compound on the conductive cathode at a temperature greater than about 400° C.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising at least partially converting the sample into metal hydroxides.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the separation apparatus further comprises a metal shim.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein metal hydroxides are formed between the metal shim and the conductive cathode.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample comprises a transition metal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the transition metal is a rare earth element.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the transition metal is a specialty element.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample comprises a lanthanide.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample comprises an actinide.

Assignees

• Univ Yale

Inventors

• O'Connor Megan
• Plata Desiree

Classifications

• B01J20/205 Primary

  Carbon nanostructures, e.g. nanotubes, nanohorns, nanocones, nanoballs (carbon nanotubes per se C01B32/15) · CPC title

• B01J20/28026

  Particles within, immobilised, dispersed, entrapped in or on a matrix, e.g. a resin · CPC title

• C02F1/283

  using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them · CPC title

• C02F1/463

  by electrocoagulation · CPC title

• C02F2101/20

  Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds · CPC title