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-Y channel was fabricated using CO_2-laser technique in a glass microchip used as the extraction system. Compared with batch extraction,extraction kinetic is found fast, and extraction equilibrium is attained within 15 s. Stoichiometry of the extracted complex is found to be Gd(NO_3)_3·3MDEHPA using log—log plot method. Additionally,the operating parameters and overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient(k_Lα) 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.     

Efficient extraction and stripping of Nd(Ⅲ),Eu(Ⅲ) and Er(Ⅲ) by membrane dispersion micro-extractors

The extraction of low concentration rare earth elements at high phase ratio was investigated. The traditional extraction set-up, such as mixer-settler, have drawbacks of easy emulsification, difficult separation and low efficiency if operated at the above condition. Membrane dispersion micro-extractor,owing to its well-dispersed, high surface-to-volume ratio and fast mass transfer rate, was employed in our work. Nd(Ⅲ),Eu(Ⅲ),Er(Ⅲ) were chosen to represent light, medium,heavy rare earth elements(REEs). The extraction process of REEs with 2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid-2-ethylhexyl ester(P507) was investigated by membrane dispersion micro-extractors. Firstly, the extraction equilibrium of these three elements was explored in the stirred conical flasks, and it is indicated that the extraction efficiencies can be 0.95, 0.97 and 0.98, respectively within 40 min at phase ratio of 100:1. Then the effects of operational conditions such as the residence time, organic and aqueous flow rates on extraction efficiency were also explored in micro-extractors. The results indicate that the efficiency decreases and then increases if increasing aqueous phase flow rate, residence time and droplets' diameter are the key factors of this process. Increasing the phase ratio reduces the extraction efficiency significantly. When the REEs solution has an initial pH of 4.00, the flow rates of continuous and dispersed phase are 40 and 1.6 mL/min,respectively, and 90 mg/L Nd(Ⅲ), Eu(Ⅲ) and Er(Ⅲ) is extracted by 1 mol/L P507 at the out-let length of8 m. The extraction efficiencies are 0.978,0.983 and 0.991, respectively. Finally the stripping process was also studied with the micro-extractor. The stripping efficiencies of Nd(Ⅲ), Eu(Ⅲ) and Er(Ⅲ) can reach0.99, 0.96 and 0.91, respectively when the out-let length is 8 m and the concentration of hydrochloric acid is 1 mol/L. The developed approach offers a novel and simple strategy on the fast extraction and enrichment of low concentration rare earth elements from waste water.     

Study on transport of Dy(Ⅲ) by dispersion supported liquid membrane

The transport of Dy(Ⅲ) through a dispersion supported liquid membrane (DSLM) consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride mem-brane (PVDF) as the liquid membrane support and dispersion solution including HC1 solution as the stripping solution and 2-ethyl hexyl phosphonic aeid-mono-2-ethyl hexyl ester (PC-88A) dissolved in kerosene as the membrane solution, was studied. The effects of pH value, initial concentration of Dy(Ⅲ) and different ionic strength in the feed phase, volume ratio of membrane solution and stripping solution, con-centration of HC1 solution, concentration of carder, different stripping agents in the dispersion phase on transport of Dy(Ⅲ) were also inves-tigated, respectively. As a result, when the concentration of HCI solution was 4.0 mol/L, concentration of PC-88A was 0.10 mol/L, and vol-ume ratio of membrane solution and stripping solution was 40:20 in the dispersion phase, and pH value was 5.0 in the feed phase, the trans-port effect of Dy(Ⅲ) was the best. Ionic strength had no obvious effect on transport of Dy(Ⅲ). Under the optimum condition studied, when initial concentration of Dy(Ⅲ) was 0.8×10-4 mol/L, the transport rate of Dy(Ⅲ) was up to 96.2% during the transport time of 95 min. The kinetic equation was developed in terms of the law of mass diffusion and the theory of interface chemistry. The diffusion coefficient of Dy(Ⅲ) in the membrane and the thickness of diffusion layer between feed phase and membrane phase were obtained and the values were 1.99×10-7 m2/s and 15.97 μm, respectively. The results were in good agreement with experimental results.     

Extraction and recovery of cerium(Ⅳ) and thorium(Ⅳ) from sulphate medium by an α-aminophosphonate extractant

In the present work, a novel α-aminophosphonate extractant(Cextrant 230) was synthesized for the extraction and recovery of cerium and thorium from sulphate medium. The introduction of amine group into the phosphate molecule would enhance the extraction of Ce(Ⅳ) and Th(Ⅳ). The effects of extractant concentration, H_2SO_4 concentration and temperature on the metal extraction were investigated in detail. It was found that the extraction of Ce(Ⅳ), Th(Ⅳ) and REs(La, Gd, Yb) in sulphate medium decreased in the following order: Ce(Ⅳ)Th(Ⅳ)REs(Ⅲ). A solvent extraction process to extract and recover cerium and thorium from bastnasite leaching was proposed, in which the purities of cerium and thorium products reached 99.9% and 99% with yield of 92% and 98%, respectively.     

Adsorption of erbium(Ⅲ) on D113-Ⅲ resin from aqueous solutions: batch and column studies

The adsorption and desorption behaviors of Er(Ⅲ) ion on D113-Ⅲ resin were investigated.Batch adsorption studies were carried out with various Er(Ⅲ) ion concentrations,pH,contact time and temperature,indicating that D113-Ⅲ resin could adsorb Er(Ⅲ) ion effectively from aqueous solution.The loading of Er(Ⅲ) ion onto D113-Ⅲ resin increased with increasing the initial concentration.The adsorption was strongly dependent on pH of the medium with enhanced adsorption as the pH turned from 3.45 to 6.75.In the batch s...     

Extraction and separation of Nd(Ⅲ), Sm(Ⅲ), Dy(Ⅲ), Fe(Ⅲ), Ni(Ⅱ), and Cs(Ⅰ) from concentrated chloride solutions with N,N,N’,N’-tetra(2-ethylhexyl) diglycolamide as new extractant

The feasibility of using N,N,N’,N’-tetra(2-ethylhexyl)diglycolamide(TEHDGA) in 75 vol.% n-dodecane-25 vol.% n-octanol as agents for the extraction and separation of Nd(III), Sm(III), Dy(III), Fe(III), Ni(II), and Cs(I) from concentrated chloride solution was investigated. Different extraction behaviors were obtained towards rare earth elements(REE) studied and Fe(III), Ni(II) and Cs(I). Efficient separation of Nd(III), Sm(III) and Dy(III) from Fe(III), Ni(II), and Cs(I) was achieved by TEHDGA, depending on the HCl, HNO3 or H2SO4 concentration. A systematic investigation was carried out on the detailed extraction properties of Nd(III), Sm(III), and Dy(III) with TEHDGA from chloride media. The IR spectra of the extracted species were investigated.     

Solvent extraction and separation of light rare earth elements (La,Pr and Nd) in the presence of lactic acid as a complexing agent by Cyanex 272 in kerosene and the effect of citric acid,acetic acid and Titriplex Ⅲ as auxiliary agents

At present, the use of rare earth elements(REEs) has become an inevitable necessity in many modern industries. In general, liquid extraction is the best commercial method for extracting REEs due to its ability to control high volumes of liquids with electrical load. With the aim of improving a separation technology that would be superior to the existing extraction systems, the extraction behaviors of La(Ⅲ),Pr(Ⅲ), and Nd(Ⅲ) from an HCI medium with Cyanex 272 in the presence of the complexing agent lactic acid(HLac) and auxiliary agents citric acid(H_3 Cit), acetic acid(HAc), and Titriplex Ⅲ have been reported.The effect of pH and lactic acid concentration has been examined. The use of lactic acid as a complexing agent leading to a high extraction of REEs with Cyanex 272 at pH = 5 was compared with systems without lactic acid. The results show that the use of acetic acid along with lactic acid leads to an increase in the extraction percentage of LREEs. While use of citric acid and Titriplex Ⅲ reduces the extraction percentage of LREEs. Finally, the presence of Titriplex Ⅲ together with lactic acid could lead to an increase in the separation factor of Pr and Nd.     

Extraction kinetics and kinetic separation of La(Ⅲ),Gd(Ⅲ),Ho(Ⅲ) and Lu(Ⅲ) from chloride medium by HEHEHP

Acco rding to the tetrad-effect,14 elements of lanthanides can be divided into four groups.In our previous study,a new approach was proposed for the kinetic separation of four rare earth ions La(Ⅲ),Gd(Ⅲ),Ho(Ⅲ) and Lu(Ⅲ) coming from four groups.In that study,four rare-earth ions were kinetically separated from their coexisting mixed aqueous solutions,by performing liquid-column elution using the aqueous solution containing four lanthanide rare-earth ions as the stationary phase and the dispersed organic oil droplets containing HEHEHP(2-ethyl hexyl phosphonic acid mono 2-ethyl hexyl ester) extractant as the mobile phase.The study of extraction kinetics is very important for understanding the kinetic separation of rare earth ions,which was carried out in this paper.The extraction kinetics of La(Ⅲ),Gd(Ⅲ),Ho(Ⅲ) and Lu(Ⅲ) by HEHEHP diluted in heptane were investigated using single drop method.The different parameters affecting the extraction rate such as column length,specific interfacial area,rare earth ion concentration,extractant concentration,hydrogen ion concentration and temperature were separately studied and the rate equations are deduced.It is first order with respect to rare earth ion and HEHEHP concentrations,and negative first order with respect to hydrogen ion concentrations.The rate constants at 293.15 K are 10~(-6.23),10~(-5.73),10~(-5.58) and 10~(-5.43),respectively.The experimental results demonstrate that the extraction rate of La(Ⅲ), Gd(Ⅲ),Ho(Ⅲ) or Lu(Ⅲ) is diffusion-controlled,and the extraction reaction takes place at the interface rather than in the bulk phase.The extraction model was proposed.Besides,the kinetic separation of rare earth ions by HEHEHP oil drops was discussed.     

A novel method for synthesis of styryl phosphonate monoester and its application in La(Ⅲ) extraction

Herein,styryl phosphonate monoester(SPE) was synthesized and first introduced as rare earth extractant.The solvent extraction of lanthanum(Ⅲ) from nitrate solution using styryl phosphonate mono-isooctyl ester(SPE108),di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid(D2 EHPA) and 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acidmono-2-ethylhexyl ester(EHEHPA) as extractants was investigated.The effects of experimental parameters including equilibrium time,extractant concentration,aqueous pH,phase ratio and salt concentration on the extraction process were studied.The results indicate that the extraction ability and capacity of the extractants follow the order:SPE108 D2 EHPA EHEHPA.What's more,the extraction process is less affected by ammonium sulfate in the aqueous phase with SPE108.The results of the separation between lanthanum and adjacent lanthanides(Ce,Pr,Nd,Sm) show that SPE108 can separate lanthanides efficiently at low pH.The extraction mechanism of SPE108 is proved to be similar to D2 EHPA,and the density functional theory(DFT) calculation results infer that SPE108 exhibits superior extraction ability due to its strong electron-accepting ability.     

Synthesis of a novel Ce(Ⅲ)-incorporated cross-linked chitosan and its effective removal of fluoride from aqueous solution

A novel Ce(Ⅲ)-incorporated cross-linked chitosan(Ce-CCS) was prepared and used for the removal of fluoride from aqueous solution. The structure and morphology of Ce-CCS were measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electronic microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analyzer(EDAX) techniques. The factors affecting the fluoride adsorption such as adsorbent dosage, initial fluoride concentration, pH, coexisting anions and contact time were investigated. Increasing adsorbent dosage enhanced the removal towards fluoride while increasing initial fluoride concentration reduced the removal towards fluoride. The optimal pH value for fluoride adsorption was 3 or so. The presence of coexisting anions weakened the adsorption of fluoride, and the decreasing order of the removal towards fluoride was PO_4~(3–)CO_3~(2–)SO_4~(2–)Cl~–. The adsorption data were described by Freundlich isotherm model and the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The incorporation of Ce(Ⅲ) enhanced the adsorption capacity of CCS for fluoride ions, the adsorption capacity at equilibrium(q_e) of Ce-CCS increased by 5.0 mg/g or so as compared with the one of CCS at the same temperature tested. The exhausted Ce-CCS could regenerate with 0.1 mol/L HCl solution.     

Lanthanum(Ⅲ) sorption studies on poly[dibenzo-18-crown-6] and its separation from uranium(Ⅵ) and thorium(Ⅳ) in L-valine medium

The sorption study of La(Ⅲ) was carried out on poly[dibenzo-18-crown-6] and L-valine medium. The quantitative adsorption of La(Ⅲ) was found at 1x10-2 to 1x10-5 mol/L L-valine. The various eluting agents were found efficient eluents for La(Ⅲ). The capacity of crown polymer for La(Ⅲ) was found to be 0.43 ±0.01 mmol/g. The tolerance limit of various cations and anions for La(Ⅲ) was determined.La(Ⅲ) was quantitatively separated from other metal ions in binary as well as multicomponont mixtures. The study was extended to sequen-tial separation of La(Ⅲ), U(Ⅵ) and Th(Ⅳ). The good separation yields were obtained and had good reproducibility (±2%). The method in-corporated the determination of La(Ⅲ) in real sample. The method was simple, rapid and selective.     

Study on the adsorption of lanthanum(Ⅲ) from aqueous solution by bamboo charcoal

The adsorption behaviors of La(Ⅲ) ion on bamboo charcoal were investigated with various chemical methods and IR spectrometry. Parameters studied include the effects of pH,average particle size,initial ion concentration,contact time and temperature by batch method. The results showed that bamboo charcoal could remove La(Ⅲ) ions effectively from aqueous solution. The loading of La(Ⅲ) ions was strongly dependent on pH of the medium and the optimal adsorption condition was in HNO3-TEA medium with pH value of 7.20. In the batch system,the modified bamboo charcoal exhibited the highest La(Ⅲ) ion uptake as 120 mg/g at 298 K,at an initial pH value of 7.20. The adsorption kinetics were tested with Lagergren-first-order model and pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption data were conformed to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms,and the correlation coefficients had been evaluated. Thermodynamic parameters such as free energy(ΔG) ,which were all negative,indicated that the adsorption of La(Ⅲ) ion onto bamboo charcoal was spontaneous and the positive value of enthalpy(ΔH) showed that the adsorption was endothermic in nature. Thomas model was applied to experimental column data to determine the characteristic parameters of column useful for process design. The characterization of both before and after adsorption of La(Ⅲ) ion on bamboo charcoal was undertaken using IR spectroscopic technique. The results revealed that bamboo charcoal was a good choice as a biosorbent for the recovery of lanthanum from aqueous solution.     

Solvent extraction and separation of light rare earth elements (La,Pr and Nd) in the presence of lactic acid as a complexing agent by Cyanex 272 in kerosene and the effect of citric acid,acetic acid and Titriplex III as auxiliary agents

At present, the use of rare earth elements (REEs) has become an inevitable necessity in many modern industries. In general, liquid extraction is the best commercial method for extracting REEs due to its ability to control high volumes of liquids with electrical load. With the aim of improving a separation technology that would be superior to the existing extraction systems, the extraction behaviors of La(III), Pr(III), and Nd(III) from an HCl medium with Cyanex 272 in the presence of the complexing agent lactic acid (HLac) and auxiliary agents citric acid (H₃Cit), acetic acid (HAc), and Titriplex III have been reported. The effect of pH and lactic acid concentration has been examined. The use of lactic acid as a complexing agent leading to a high extraction of REEs with Cyanex 272 at pH = 5 was compared with systems without lactic acid. The results show that the use of acetic acid along with lactic acid leads to an increase in the extraction percentage of LREEs. While use of citric acid and Titriplex III reduces the extraction percentage of LREEs. Finally, the presence of Titriplex III together with lactic acid could lead to an increase in the separation factor of Pr and Nd.     

New steroid dimer derived from cholic acid as receptor for lanthanum(Ⅲ) and calcium(Ⅱ) nitrates

New steroid dimer,ethylene bridged bis-carbamate(3) was synthesized from cholic acid in few steps. Complexes of 3 with lanthanum(Ⅲ) and calcium(Ⅱ) nitrates were prepared in reaction of 3 and appropriate metal salts. They were characterized by spectral data(Infrared(IR) ,ultraviolet-visible(UV/Vis) ,nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectroscopy and fast-atom bombardment(FAB) ,electrospray(ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry(MALDI-MS)) and elemental analysis. The similarity in complexing behavior of steroidal dimer toward calcium and lanthanum ions was observed.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and thermal studies of some lanthanide(Ⅲ) nitrate complexes with a hydrazo derivative of 4-aminoantipyrine

A heterocyclic ligand synthesized by the coupling of diazotized 4-aminoantipyrine with acetylacetone reacted with lanthanide(III) nitrate to form complexes of the type [Ln(HAAP)₂(NO₃)₃] where, Ln=La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), or Gd(III) and HAAP= 3-{[2-(N-1-phenyl-2,3-dimethylpyrazol-3-in-5-on-4-yl)]hydrazone}pent-2,3,4-trione. The ligand and metal complexes were characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility measurements, UV-Visible, infrared, far infrared and proton NMR spectral data. The spectral data revealed that the ligand existed in the hydrazo form and coordinated to the metal ion without deprotonation in a neutral tridentate manner, through carbonyl oxygen of pyrazolone ring, hydrazo nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen of the acetylacetone moiety. The molar conductance values adequately supported their non-electrolytic nature. The ligand and the praseodymium(III) complex were subjected to X-ray diffraction studies. Thermal decomposition behavior of the lanthanum(III) complex was also examined.     

Structural and Magnetic Properties of Fe60–xNix(ZnO)40 Nanocomposites Produced by Mechanical Milling and Coated by Thermal Spraying on a Steel Substrate

Powder Metallurgy and Metal Ceramics - This work aims to study the effect of mechanical milling of Fe, ZnO, and Ni elemental powders and thermal spraying processes on chemical composition,...     

Characterization, crystal structure and luminescence properties of a new europium(Ⅲ) complex with macrocyclic ligand derived from 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and diethylenetriamine

The title compound (13,27-dimethyl-3,6,9,17,20,23-hexaazatricyclo-[23.3.1.111,15]-triaconta-1(29),2,9,11,13,15(30),16,23,25,27-decaene-29,30-diol-N3, N6, N9, O29, O30)-bis (nitrato-O,O')-europium (Ⅲ) nitrate hydrate ([EuL(NO3)2(NO3).H2O, L denotes the macrocyc-lic ligand) was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, and electrospray mass spectra. Its crystal and molecular structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal crystallized in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c with a=2.3757 (4) nm, b=1.4302(3) nm, c=1.9584(3) nm, β=91.654(5)°, M=S18.60, V=6.651(2) nm3, Z=8,D=1.635 g/cm, F(000)=3312, R=0.0542, wR=0.1045. The central ion Eu3+ was nine-coordinated in the coordinaton geometry of a distorted tricapped trigonal prism. The macrocycle was coordi-nated through two oxygen and three nitrogen atoms. Two nitrate are chelate in the opposite positions of the macrocycle, the third nitrate be-ing ionic. At room temperature, excitation of the title complex gave rise to the characteristic emissions of the Eu3+ ion.     

Synergistic extraction of rare earth by mixtures of 2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid from sulfuric acid medium?

The extraction of Nd3 and Sm3 , including the extraction and stripping capability as well as the separation effect of Nd3 or Sm3 , from a sulfuric acid medium, by mixtures of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP, H2A2(0)) and 2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (HEH/EHP, H2L2(0)) were studied. The distribution ratios and synergistic coefficients of Nd3 and Sm3 in different acidities were also determined. A synergistic extractive effect was found when HDEHP and HEH/EHP were used as mixed extractants for Sm3 or Nd3 . The chemical compositions of the extracted complex were determined as Nd·(HA2)2·HL2 and Sm·(HA2)2·HL2. The extraction equilibrium constants, enthalpy change, and entropy change of the extraction reaction were also determined.