TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: UltraSep Acoustic Separation Platform
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- 26-22794
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- Place of performance
- Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
- Points of contact
-
- Satya Srinivasan licensing@lanl.gov
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Energy is announcing a technology licensing opportunity for the UltraSep Acoustic Separation Platform, developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, with a response deadline of October 1, 2026. This is a technology transfer initiative, not a procurement solicitation.
UltraSep is an intelligent ultrasonic separation platform that performs solid-liquid separation through resonance-locked acoustic control and real-time energy optimization. The system dynamically matches ultrasonic output to system eigenfrequency while maximizing particulate removal per unit of applied energy, replacing traditional centrifugation and filtration with precision-controlled acoustic forces. Key advantages include reduced power consumption, decreased mechanical complexity, lower operating costs, improved recovery performance, and scalable modular architecture.
The technology comprises two issued U.S. patents (10,428,324 expiring March 19, 2037 and 11,395,982 expiring March 17, 2039), jointly owned with Sonosep Technologies Inc., plus a pending patent application filed September 18, 2024 and proprietary control software. Market applications include nuclear materials processing, rare earth and critical mineral recovery, bioprocessing, environmental remediation, advanced materials manufacturing, and high-value particle recovery.
Interested parties should contact licensing@lanl.gov to discuss licensing terms and commercialization pathways.
Notice text
UltraSep continuously tracks system eigenfrequencies and locks ultrasonic output to resonance, ensuring maximum acoustic energy coupling and eliminating wasted off-frequency power. An autotuning algorithm adjusts the ultrasound frequency and amplitude to consistently maximize the separation efficiency in dynamic or inhomogeneous flows. Together, resonance locking and energy-per-removal optimization create a closed-loop, adaptive separation system that converts separation from a mechanically intensive process into a precision-engineered, low-energy acoustic platform.
Value Proposition
UltraSep is an intelligent ultrasonic separation platform that transforms solid–liquid separation through real-time eigenfrequency resonance locking and ultra-low power energy optimization. By dynamically matching ultrasonic output to system resonance while maximizing particulate removal per unit of applied energy, UltraSep replaces centrifugation and fouling-prone filtration with precision-controlled acoustic forces that significantly reduce power consumption, mechanical complexity, and operating cost while improving recovery performance. This integrated platform unites patented resonance-based acoustic control and energy-per-removal optimization with chemistry-enhanced separation and proprietary system software into a scalable, high-impact commercial technology.
Advantages
- Resonance-locked acoustic excitation that maximizes acoustic coupling efficiency and eliminates off-frequency energy loss
- Maximum particulate removal per applied energy through optimized ultrasonic field control
- Integrated resonance tracking and energy optimization for adaptive, closed-loop system performance
- Reduced mechanical complexity and fouling compared to centrifugation and filtration systems
- Scalable, modular architecture for flexible deployment
- Integrated intelligent control software enabling real-time frequency and power optimization
Market Applications
- Nuclear materials processing
- Rare earth and critical mineral recovery
- Industrial solid–liquid separation
- Food and beverage processing
- Pharmaceutical processing
- Bioprocessing and algae systems
- Environmental remediation
- High-value particle recovery
Competitive Position
UltraSep is a platform technology, not a single device.
It unifies resonance-locked acoustic control, ultra-low power optimization, chemistry-enhanced separation, and proprietary system software into a defensible system protected by layered IP coverage through 2039 and beyond.
IP Portfolio
The UltraSep platform is supported by a layered intellectual property framework covering acoustic physics, energy optimization, chemical process enhancement and system control software. This layered IP strategy protects not only individual components, but the integrated system architecture that enables intelligent, energy-optimized separation performance.
Issued U.S. Patents
- U.S. Patent 10,428,324
- Acoustic Manipulation of Fluids Based on Eigenfrequency
- (Expires March 19, 2037)
- Acoustic Manipulation of Fluids Based on Eigenfrequency
- U.S. Patent 11,395,982
- Ultra-Low Power Acoustic Separation
- (Expires March 17, 2039)
- Jointly owned with Sonosep Technologies Inc.
- Ultra-Low Power Acoustic Separation
- U.S. Patent Application
- Application No. 18/889332
Ultrasonic Separation with pH Control- Filed September 18, 2024
- Application No. 18/889332
Copyrighted Software
- UltraSep™ Control Software (T4737)
- Integrated acoustic system control architecture (C++/LabVIEW platform)
- Perfusion Control Software – PCS (C16112)
- Fluidic timing, valve control, and flow-path management system
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| UltraSep Snapshot LA-UR-26-22794.pdf |
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