Rare earth element recovery from ion-adsorption clay waste
This technology is a more efficient, lower-cost process for pulling rare earth elements (REEs) out of low-quality clay-based materials, including waste products from coal mining and kaolin clay processing. The process starts by physically concentrating the REE-bearing minerals using high-shear mixing with a chemical additive called a polyelectrolyte, which loosens those minerals from the surrounding clay. That pre-concentration step creates a much richer feedstock before any expensive chemical leaching begins, which cuts both capital and operating costs compared to processing raw, dilute material. The net result is a pathway to domestically sourced critical materials from what are currently treated as industrial waste streams.
What you could build
A licensed processing technology or modular plant design sold to coal refuse and kaolin mining operators to recover REEs from their existing waste streams, monetizing material that currently has no value; buyers would be mining companies and critical materials refiners seeking domestic REE supply.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia has active coal mining operations in the southwestern part of the state and is home to companies interested in domestic critical mineral supply chains; state economic development agencies promoting REE independence would also be relevant stakeholders.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Christopher Aaron NOBLE, Roe-Hoan YOON
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed August 26, 2024
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20240417827A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.