AI-Directed Dielectrophoresis and Electrostatic Nanoparticle Gettering (DEP/ENG) for Solvent-Free Recovery of Rare-Earths and Oxides from Waste and Ores
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This technical note presents the combined Dielectrophoresis (DEP) and Electrostatic Nanoparticle Gettering (ENG) platform developed to recover high-purity rare-earth and oxide materials from industrial waste streams—including fly ash, mine tailings, and municipal solid-waste incineration residues—without solvents or acid leaching. The DEP/ENG architecture uses electric-field gradients and ligand-functionalized nanoparticles to selectively separate metallic and oxide phases under artificial-intelligence control. Real-time spectroscopic and conductivity feedback enable dynamic adjustment of voltage, frequency, and waveform to maximize purity and yield. Bench-scale tests indicate recoveries exceeding 90 % for targeted elements and SiO₂ purities above 99.999 %. The process is inherently scalable to multi-ton systems through modular reactor design and closed-loop automation. A full-scale 1 million-ton-per-year facility could produce roughly 1,000 tons of rare-earth oxides annually while simultaneously reclaiming valuable by-products such as silica, alumina, titania, and iron, eliminating dependence on foreign refining capacity. By transforming legacy waste into critical-material feedstock, the DEP/ENG system demonstrates a sustainable route to domestic resource independence, reduced environmental impact, and new economic value from existing industrial residues.
Author: Burt, Paul W.
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7104059915
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