Rare-earth separation based on the differences of ionic magnetic moment via quasi-liquid strategy

doi:10.1007/s11705-022-2189-4

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2022, Vol. 16

Issue (11) : 1584-1594 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-022-2189-4

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Rare-earth separation based on the differences of ionic magnetic moment via quasi-liquid strategy

Na Wang^1,², Fujian Li^2,³(

), Bangyu Fan^2,^3,⁴, Suojiang Zhang^2,³, Lu Bai^2,³, Xiangping Zhang^2,³(

)

¹. College of Chemical and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
². CAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, Institute of Process Engineering and Innovation Academy for Green Manufacture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
³. Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou 341000, China
⁴. College of Chemistry, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China

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Abstract

The separation of rare earth elements is particularly difficult due to their similar physicochemical properties. Based on the tiny differences of ionic radius, solvent extraction has been developed as the “mass method” in industry with hundreds of stages, extremely intensive chemical consumption and large capital investments. The differences of the ionic magnetic moment among rare earths are greater than that of ionic radius. Herein, a novel method based on the large ionic magnetic moment differences of rare earth elements was proposed to promote the separation efficiency. Rare earths were firstly dissolved in the ionic liquid, then the ordering degree of them was improved with the Z-bond effect, and finally the magnetic moment differences between paramagnetic and diamagnetic rare earths in quasi-liquid system were enhanced. Taking the separation of Er/Y, Ho/Y and Er/Ho as examples, the results showed that Er(III) and Ho(III) containing ionic liquids had obvious magnetic response, while ionic liquids containing Y(III) had no response. The separation factors of Er/Y and Ho/Y were achieved at 9.0 and 28.82, respectively. Magnetic separation via quasi-liquid system strategy provides a possibility of the novel, green, and efficient method for rare earth separation.

Keywords rare earth element different magnetic moment magnetic separation ionic liquid

Corresponding Author(s): Fujian Li,Xiangping Zhang

Online First Date: 09 October 2022 Issue Date: 13 December 2022

Cite this article:

Na Wang,Fujian Li,Bangyu Fan, et al. Rare-earth separation based on the differences of ionic magnetic moment via quasi-liquid strategy[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2022, 16(11): 1584-1594.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-022-2189-4
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2022/V16/I11/1584

Fig.1 Chemical structure of the three ILs.

Fig.2 Volumetric magnetic susceptibility of RE(III) compounds in the three states.

Fig.3 Internal structure diagrams of the three states under the gradient magnetic field.

Fig.4 Raman spectroscopy of [P_666,14][Cl], [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆](QL), ErCl₃·6H₂O(S) and ErCl₃ in water solution(L).

Fig.5 Relationship between the magnetization and magnetic field of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆], [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆].

Tab.1 Er(III)/Y(III) mixed ILs 1–6

Fig.6 Magnetization (black triangles) and average velocities (red squares) of the mixed ILs containing Er(III) and Y(III).

Fig.7 Magnetic separation of REEs in the QL system diagram.

Fig.8 Magnetic separation of Er(III)/Y(III) in QL system. (A) The magnetic induction phenomenon of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆]. (B) The average velocity of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆] in different time. (C) The average velocity of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆] in different magnetic fields (from the distal to the proximal end of the magnets). (D) Separations of different liquid drops (0.1 mL each drop) of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆]. a–d represent 1:1, 2:2, 4:4 and 8:8, respectively. The left graph: The initial state before magnetic movement, and the right graph: The final state when balance in motion is achieved. The two samples of each group were corrected for the proximal or distal end of the magnets and analysed for the concentration of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆]. (E) The concentrations of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆] at the proximal end of the magnet in the a–d group. (F) The concentrations of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆] at the distal end of the magnet in the a–d group.

Fig.9 Magnetic separation of Ho(III)/Y(III) in QL system. (A) The magnetic induction phenomenon of [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆]. (B) The average velocity of [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆] in different time. (C) The average velocity of [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆] in different magnetic fields (from the distal to the proximal end of the magnets). (D) Separations of different liquid drops (0.1 mL each drop) of [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆]. a–d represent 1:1, 2:2, 4:4 and 8:8, respectively. The left graph: The initial state before magnetic movement, and the right graph: The final state when balance in motion is achieved. The two samples of each group were corrected for the proximal or distal end of the magnets and analyzed for the concentration of [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆]. (E) The concentrations of [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆] at the proximal end of the magnet in the a–d group. (F) The concentrations of [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[YCl₆] at the distal end of the magnet in the a–d group.

Fig.10 Magnetic separation of Er(III)/Ho(III) in QL system. (A) The magnetic induction phenomenon of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆]. (B) The average velocity of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] in different time. (C) The average velocity of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] in different magnetic fields (from the distal to the proximal end of the magnets). (D) Separations of different liquid drops (0.1 mL each drop) of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆]. a–d represent 1:1, 2:2, 4:4 and 8:8, respectively. The left graph: The initial state before magnetic movement, and the right graph: The final state when balance in motion is achieved. The two samples of each group were corrected for the proximal or distal end of the magnets and analysed for the concentration of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆]. (E) The concentrations of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] at the proximal end of the magnet in the a–d group. (F) The concentrations of [P_666,14]₃[ErCl₆] and [P_666,14]₃[HoCl₆] at the distal end of the magnet in the a–d group.

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