Patent ID: 9121082
Filing Date: 2015-09-01
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for refining a feed material comprising an ore product in a plasma chamber, comprising: accelerating charged particles in said at least partially ionized feed material; heating said feed material in a plasma torch coupled to an inlet of said chamber so as to at least partially ionize the feed material in an ionization region as it enters the chamber; accelerating charged particles in said at least partially ionized feed material; directing said accelerated charged particles between a set of magnetic field coils disposed at the discharge end of said ionization region and into said chamber to form a plasma pinch between said magnetic field coils; directing said pinched accelerated charged particles through a magnetic field that is substantially transverse to a general direction of motion of said particles so as to separate different species of said charged particles from one another using Lorentz force separation; collecting a select one of said species of charged particles on a collector placed at a location chosen in said plasma chamber to intercept said select species corresponding to its mass and charge; discharging other species of charged constituents from said plasma chamber; and generating a purified product from said ore product.