US 12,247,268 B2
Separation of rare earth elements
Gregory Piefer, Janesville, WI (US); Eric Van Abel, Janesville, WI (US); and Richard Sisson, Janesville, WI (US)
Assigned to SHINE Technologies, LLC, Janesville, WI (US)
Filed by SHINE Technologies, LLC, Janesville, WI (US)
Filed on Oct. 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/930,515.
Application 18/930,515 is a continuation of application No. 17/778,257, granted, now 12,157,930, previously published as PCT/US2020/061332, filed on Nov. 19, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/938,103, filed on Nov. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2025/0051878 A1, Feb. 13, 2025
Int. Cl. C22B 59/00 (2006.01); B01D 7/00 (2006.01); C22B 3/20 (2006.01); C22B 9/02 (2006.01); C22B 9/04 (2006.01); G21G 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC C22B 59/00 (2013.01) [B01D 7/00 (2013.01); C22B 3/205 (2013.01); C22B 9/02 (2013.01); C22B 9/04 (2013.01); G21G 2001/0094 (2013.01); Y02P 10/20 (2015.11)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for purifying lutetium, the method comprising:
reducing ytterbium oxide to ytterbium metal;
irradiating the ytterbium metal to generate lutetium, thereby forming a solid composition comprising ytterbium and lutetium;
subliming or distilling ytterbium from the solid composition in an inert or reduced pressure environment and at a temperature of about 400° C. to about 1500° C. to leave a lutetium composition comprising a higher weight percentage of lutetium than was present in the solid composition; and
collecting the ytterbium for reuse.