	US 11,807,545 B2
	Process for separating scandium from complex salt mixtures
Dorin V. Preda, Medford, MA (US); Prakash B. Joshi, Andover, MA (US); Matthew B. Boucher, Belmont, MA (US); and Aaron R. Rathmell, Upton, MA (US)
Assigned to Physical Sciences, Inc., Andover, MA (US)
Filed by Physical Sciences, Inc., Andover, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/826,622.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/823,160, filed on Mar. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0308016 A1, Oct. 1, 2020
Int. Cl. C01F 17/00 (2020.01); C01F 17/17 (2020.01); C22B 3/20 (2006.01); C22B 59/00 (2006.01); C01F 17/212 (2020.01)

CPC C01F 17/17 (2020.01) [C01F 17/212 (2020.01); C22B 3/20 (2013.01); C22B 59/00 (2013.01)]

10 Claims

1. A method of separating scandium from a coal ash feedstock, the method comprising:

producing a dry mixture of nitrates of rare earth elements and scandium from the coal ash feedstock;

producing a scandium enriched solution from the dry mixture by selective dissolution;

extracting the scandium enriched solution to produce an organic phase of the scandium enriched solution;

re-extracting the organic phase of the scandium enriched solution to produce an aqueous phase including scandium chloride separated from the rare earth elements; and

precipitating and calcining the aqueous phase to produce scandium oxide powder.