USPTO Patent issued - us 12,416,064 b2 selective recovery of metals from ion exchange resins

---

Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CF Technologies, Inc. and Battelle Energy Alliance are granted U.S. Patent No. 12,416,064 B2 for Separation and Purification of Metals, with a focus on Rare Earth Elements.
Boston, MA — March 10, 2026 — CF Technologies, Inc., an innovator in the field of separation technologies, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted U.S. Patent No. 12,416,064 B2, entitled Systems and Methods for Selective Recovery of Metals from Ion Exchange Resins, covering a novel approach to purify valuable metals, including lanthanide radio isotopes such as lutetium 177 used in medicine, nuclear forensics, and research.
This patent strengthens CF Techs’ intellectual property portfolio around its core separation technologies and provides protection for key innovations as development moves to commercialization.

Key Details & Significance

• Patent number & issuance: U.S. Patent No. 12,416,064 B2, issued on September 16, 2025.
• Title: Systems and Methods for Selective Recovery of Metals from Ion Exchange Resins
• Inventors / Assignees: The inventors are Dr. Laura Sinclair, John Moses, Jessica Sweeney and Justin Gonzalez of CF Technologies, and Drs. Robert Fox and Mary Case of Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (Idaho National Lab). The patent is assigned to CF Tech and Battelle Energy Alliance.
• Technology summary: The invention covers systems and methods for purification of rare earth elements, including radioisotopes used in the treatment of cancer. The non-aqueous process has numerous advantages over conventional purification technologies. It provides greater purification in higher yield in a single step, it is faster, lower cost, more efficient, and generates less hazardous waste than conventional methods.
• Problem addressed: The process addresses a long-standing challenge by offering a simple, cost-effective method to quickly produce in very high purity, short-lived radioisotopes.
• Applications & market potential: Along with other innovations at CF Tech, this technology can be deployed in small volume uses such radiopharmaceuticals manufacturing, stable isotope production, and nuclear forensics, and large volume rare earth element recovery, separation, and purification from recycling, mining, magnets and ore refining. Rare earth elements are needed for numerous applications in defense and electronics, and in magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and many other applications. While radiopharmaceutical use continues to increase due to its success in cancer therapy, a key to both economic and patient outcomes is the speed of processing these short-lived isotopes. As global demand intensifies for radiopharmaceutical therapies and imaging, [Lu-177, Tb-161, Ac-225, Tl-201, Ga-67, Yt-90, At-211, Cu-64, Cu-67, among others], this patent positions the company to lead in commercialization and licensing for production of these critical radioisotopes.

 
Co-inventor and company president, John Moses, thanks employees, and the group at Idaho National Lab, and the MIT Nuclear Research Lab for their contributions to the development of this groundbreaking technology, which when implemented enables greater purification in a simplified process, resulting in reduced worker and environmental hazards and improvement in the treatment of cancer patients at lower cost.

Strategic Outlook & Next Steps
With this patent, CF Technologies, Inc. is positioned to:

• Engage in strategic partnerships and technology licensing,
• Advance development and validation in additional applications,
• Explore commercialization in markets prioritized for 2026 and beyond,
• Use the patent as a differentiator in funding rounds, marketing, and customer engagement.

“As we look to partners for commercial rollout," said Jessica Sweeney, Vice-President of CF Technologies, Inc., “the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12,416,064 B2 marks a milestone in securing IP protection for our core innovation. This patent validates our direction and bolsters confidence among investors, collaborators, and customers in our path forward.”

About CF Technologies, Inc.
CF Technologies, Inc. is a world-renowned research, engineering, and manufacturing firm specializing in supercritical fluid processes and separations technology. Founded in 1989, the company focuses on advancements in clean and green technology upgrades including those in medical and renewable fuel industries.
For more information, visit cftechnologies.com for specific details on CF Tech’s Lu-177 radioactive separations as described in our white paper, 8914-WP3.
About Battelle Energy Alliance / Idaho National Laboratory
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, and also performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov and follow on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

Media Contact
Jessica Sweeney, Vice President, CF Technologies, Inc.                                                                     
(617) 364-2500
[email protected]
cftechnologies.com