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TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Selective Precipitation of Metal Ion Salts from Saturated Aqueous Solutions A new environmentally friendly, low energy process for metal recovery. Opportunity: Idaho N... TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Selective Precipitation of Metal Ion Salts from Saturated Aqueous Solutions A new environmentally friendly, low energy process for metal recovery. Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this new selective precipitation of metal ion salts technology. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses and ultimately an improved way of life for the American people. Overview: Hydrometallurgy is the scientific discipline responsible for extraction, separation and recovery of metals from aqueous solutions. In hydrometallurgical processes, metal is extracted from the original material (ore) via leaching, which produces a leach liquor containing metal ions. However, since leaching processes generally have poor selectivity, a variety of contaminants are also brought into the leach liquor. Subsequent hydrometallurgical treatments of the aqueous solution involve concentration and purification to separate the target metal from impurities. A new process developed by researchers at INL uses a non-toxic, pressurized organic solvent to reduce the cost and environmental impact of hydrometallurgical extraction. Description: In this new process, the versatility of miscible organic solvent (MOS) separations is demonstrated for aqueous systems. In contact with the aqueous solution, the MOS has two possible interactions: it can generate an organic phase that can receive water (and certain solutes) while simultaneously dissolving into the aqueous phase. As the MOS is dissolved into the aqueous solution, it drives saturation, and later precipitation, of salts contained in the solution; this is often a selective precipitation, and thus a hydrometallurgical extraction. These interactions between MOS and aqueous phases present utility in the purification and dewatering of process streams, producing purified water and a concentrated solution for subsequent separations. The volatile nature of the MOS allows for its removal from solution through evaporation, with only transient effects (no residual reagent) on the original solution. Benefits: High selectivity Reduced reagent costs Reduced environmental impact Reduced energy costs Low capital cost and footprint compared to evaporative processes Applications: Extractive metallurgy and recycling Dewatering aqueous product streams Development Status: TRL 5. System has been validated in a laboratory environment at bench scale. IP Status: Provisional Patent Application No. 63/202,324, “Selective Precipitation of Solutes from Aqueous Solutes and Related Systems,“ BEA Docket No. BA-1270. INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities. Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.