Rare Earth Recovery Through Torula Yeast Adsorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional metal recovery methods using biological materials face issues of high environmental impact, low efficiency, and low productivity, and require complex procedures or costly chemical modifications, making them unsuitable for industrial-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
A method using torula yeast to adsorb rare earth ions under acidic conditions, followed by separation and recovery, which includes leaching with acidic solutions, solid-liquid separation, and heat treatment to recover rare earth elements efficiently and cost-effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional biological material recovery methods are used, then low cost and low environmental impact are achieved, but productivity and efficiency remain low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including pH range (2-4), temperature (20-40°C), and contact time (30-120 minutes) to enhance adsorption efficiency. By controlling these parameters, the method achieves high productivity while maintaining simplicity, resolving the contradiction between efficiency and procedure complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive, readily available biological materials such as baker's yeast, algae, and agricultural waste as adsorbents. These materials can be easily disposed of or regenerated after use, enabling high-throughput processing without requiring complex recovery systems, thus improving productivity while keeping procedures simple
2Quantity of substance
If chemical modification of yeast is performed to enhance adsorption, then adsorption capacity is improved, but adsorbent cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes biological materials that naturally possess adsorption capabilities through their cell walls and surface structures. Materials like yeast, algae, and agricultural waste inherently bind metal ions without requiring external chemical modifications, thereby maintaining low adsorbent costs while achieving sufficient adsorption capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the natural surface properties and functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino groups) present on biological materials. By utilizing these locally available active sites on the adsorbent surface, the method achieves effective adsorption without needing to modify the entire material structure, keeping manufacturing simple and cost-effective
3Productivity
If batch-type laboratory methods are used, then recovery selectivity is achieved, but productivity remains low for industrial application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes continuous flow-through methods where metal-containing solutions are continuously passed through columns or reactors containing the adsorbent material. This continuous operation maintains high productivity for industrial applications while the controlled flow rates and contact times ensure consistent adsorption selectivity, resolving the contradiction between scalability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multi-stage processing systems where the recovery process is divided into separate steps: adsorption in the first stage, followed by desorption and regeneration in subsequent stages. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific function, maintaining high selectivity while enabling continuous operation at industrial scale
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves low-cost, high-efficiency, and low-impact recovery of rare earth elements suitable for industrialization, with reduced environmental impact and increased productivity.
Implementation Method 1
mixing a liquid containing a rare earth ion with torula yeast, thereby adsorbing the rare earth ion by the torula yeast under an acidic condition
Implementation Method 2
the separated solid fraction obtained in the separating is subjected to a heat treatment to burn the torula yeast, thereby recovering the rare earth ion adsorbed by the torula yeast as a concentrate thereof
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a rare earth element recovery method that has a low environmental impact and can achieve rare earth element recovery at low cost and with high efficiency. A rare earth element recovery method includes: mixing a liquid containing a rare earth ion with torula yeast, thereby adsorbing the rare earth ion by the torula yeast under an acidic condition to obtain a mixed liquid; separating the torula yeast from the mixed liquid obtained in the adsorbing; and recovering the rare earth ion from the torula yeast separated in the separating.