Development of a microfluidic-chip system based on parallel flow for intensified Gd(III) extraction from nitrate media using cationic extractant

Microfluidic solvent extraction (micro SX) of gadolinium was conducted using a mono- and di-ester mixture (MDEHPA) as the cationic extractant. A microfluidic Y(kLα) were investigated to determine the mass transfer performance. Optimal condition of microextraction for gadolinium using response surface methodology was determined (feed solutions 31 mg/L adjusted to pH value 2.5, extractant concentration 2.9 vol% and extraction time 13.5 s). In optimal condition, gadolinium extraction yield is obtained 95.5%. Findings of this study approve simplicity, portability, effectiveness, swiftness, and environmental friendliness microfluidic solvent extraction process and reveal that micro SX is useful in the field of extraction strategic metals present at low concentrations, which are otherwise not technically amenable or economically feasible to extract using current traditional methods.