Molecular resonant frequency enhancement of metal oxide refining

Abstract

A system ( 100 ) for refining a metal oxide can include a target material ( 110 ) and at least one energy source ( 120 ) associated with the target material ( 110 ). The target material ( 110 ) can include a metal oxide to be reduced to a metallic element. The energy source ( 120 ) can be configured to apply an energy input ( 130 ) to the target material ( 110 ). The energy input ( 130 ) can include as oscillating component having a frequency that is resonant with a molecular resonant frequency of at least one component of target material ( 110 ). Additionally, a method of refining a metal oxide can include supplying an energy input to a target material that includes the metal oxide to reduce the metal oxide to a metallic element. The energy input can include an oscillating component having a frequency that is resonant with a molecular resonant frequency of at least one component of the target material.

1 . A system for refining a metal oxide comprising:
 a target material comprising a metal oxide or a metal salt to be reduced to a metallic element; and   at least one energy source operatively associated with the target material and configured to apply an energy input to the target material, wherein the energy input includes an oscillating component having a frequency that is resonant with a molecular resonant frequency of at least one component of the target material.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy input is a form of energy selected from the group consisting of electrical energy, electromagnetic energy, sonic energy, [any others?] 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises an energy source selected from the group consisting of a direct current source, an alternating current source, a radio wave source, a microwave source, an infrared light source, a visible light source, an ultraviolet light source, an X-ray source, a gamma ray source, a laser, a maser, an ultrasound source, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises an electrical energy source associated with at least one electrode configured to supply an electric current to the target material. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises a primary electrical energy source configured to supply a primary constant voltage and a secondary electrical energy source configured to impose an oscillating component upon the primary constant voltage by induction, connection in series with, or connection in parallel with the primary electrical energy source. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises a high voltage coil. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the target material is in a solid state, a liquid state, or a mixture of solid and liquid states. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the target material comprises the metal oxide dissolved in an electrolytic solvent. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising electrodes in contact with the electrolytic solvent, wherein the energy source is an electrical energy source configured to apply a voltage across the electrodes. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the metal oxide is aluminum oxide and the electrolytic solvent comprises cryolite. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one component of the target material is selected from the group consisting of the metal oxide, ions of the metal oxide dissolved in an electrolytic solvent, an electrolytic solvent, a catalyst, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method of refining a metal oxide comprising supplying an energy input to a target material comprising a metal oxide such that the metal oxide is reduced to a metallic element, wherein the energy input includes an oscillating component having a frequency that is resonant with a molecular resonant frequency of at least one component of the target material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the energy input is a form of energy selected from the group consisting of electrical energy, electromagnetic energy, sonic energy, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the energy input is supplied by an energy source selected from the group consisting of a direct current source, an alternating current source, a radio wave source, a microwave source, an infrared light source, a visible light source, an ultraviolet light source, an X-ray source, a gamma ray source, a laser, a maser, an ultrasound source, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the energy input is supplied by an electrical energy source associated with at least one electrode configured to supply an electric current to the target material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the energy input is supplied by a primary electrical energy source configured to supply a primary constant voltage and a secondary electrical energy source configured to impose an oscillating component upon the primary constant voltage by induction, connection in series with, or connection in parallel with the primary electrical energy source. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the energy input is supplied by an energy source comprising a tesla coil. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the target material is in a solid state, a liquid state, or a mixture of solid and liquid states. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the target material comprises the metal oxide dissolved in an electrolytic solvent. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein supplying the energy input comprises applying a voltage across electrodes in contact with the electrolytic solvent using an electrical energy source. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the metal oxide is aluminum oxide and the electrolytic solvent comprises cryolite. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one component of the target material is selected from the group consisting of the metal oxide, ions of the metal oxide dissolved in an electrolytic solvent, an electrolytic solvent, a catalyst, and combinations thereof.