Grand Forks, North Dakota Patent of the Year – 2024/2025
Microbeam Technologies Inc. has been awarded the 2024/2025 Patent of the Year for advancing clean-tech resource extraction. Their invention, detailed in U.S. Patent No. 12031195, titled ‘System and method for producing critical minerals’, introduces a smarter, more efficient way to recover essential elements from coal-related byproducts.
This innovative system targets critical minerals like rare earth elements using a combination of sensors, data analytics, and real-time process control. These minerals are essential to electronics, renewable energy, and national defense. Traditional extraction methods are costly and often environmentally damaging. Microbeam’s system improves selectivity and yield while reducing waste and energy use.
The patent outlines a method that assesses the mineral content of feedstocks and adjusts extraction parameters dynamically. This means operators can recover more valuable materials with less environmental impact. It also makes domestic mineral recovery more viable, helping to reduce U.S. reliance on overseas supply chains.
For communities near coal mining or ash disposal sites, this invention offers a second life for industrial waste. Turning byproducts into resources can create new economic opportunities while helping to clean up legacy pollution.
Microbeam Technologies Inc. continues to lead in applying advanced analytics to real-world industrial challenges. This patent signals a future where smarter mining meets sustainability and strengthens the supply of critical materials.