TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Remotely Operated Ultrasonic Separation (UltraSep)

No more clogged filters! UltraSep is being developed for industrial manufacturers fed up with choked filters and their sluggish dewatering rates. Los Alamos National Laboratory is creating a membrane-free solution with a much lower footprint than gravity settling. Unlike membrane filtration, our technology provides steady-state dewatering without maintenance disruptions. Remote, automated operation also reduces dose accrual in personnel while freeing them up for other tasks. We are seeking a partner with an interest in furthering the development of the technology into an application/product for industrial manufacturing sectors.

The Challenge:

Separations exist in all industrial manufacturing sectors and are heavily reliant on well-established technologies such as membrane filtration and energy intensive centrifugation. However, these conventional technologies come with issues that make them impractical or unsatisfactory for many applications including production-critical nuclear processes, beverage production and potentially pharmaceuticals processes. Ultrasonic filtration is a membrane-free technology shown to dewater micron-sized solid precipitates at a steady rate without the maintenance needed by membrane filtration processes.

How it Works:

UltraSep employs a silent standing wave that continuously traps and concentrates micron-sized particles in solutions. Particles flowing upward into the standing wave are stopped and moved laterally to nearby nodes. This creates vertical regions of clarified liquid that flows up and out the top of the chamber. Particles concentrate at the nodes and form fast-settling aggregates that break free and settle to the bottom of the chamber where they are continuously removed.

Key Advantages:

• Low footprint


• 99.9% metal removal in filtrate


• High water removal (up to 95% of bulk water)


• GUI provides operator complete control of process including pH adjustment


• Ultrasonics startup with automatic pump coordination is actuated at the GUI by the click of a button

Market Applications:

• Solids dewatering processes


• Food and beverage


• Production-critical nuclear processes


• Pharmaceutical

Development Status: Technology Readiness Level 5

US Patent No.: 10428324-B1

LA-UR-24-22790

Access: https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/tech-and-capability-search/rous

LANL Tech Partnerships: Unlock the Innovative Potential

Los Alamos National Laboratory offers a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and capabilities that may provide your company with a competitive edge in the market and unlock the innovative potential that can enhance, refine, and revolutionize your products.

LANL’s licensing program focuses on moving inventions developed by our researchers to commercial innovations. Patented and patent pending inventions and copyrighted software are available to existing and start-up companies through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. For specific discussions, please contact licensing@lanl.gov.

Note: This is not a call for external services for the development of this technology.

https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/partner-with-us/licensing-technology

https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/tech-and-capability-search