Application of a functionalized ionic liquid extractant tributylmethylammonium dibutyldiglycolamate ([A336][BDGA]) in light rare earth extraction and separation

Abstract

A type of functionalized ionic liquid extractant, tributylmethylammonium dibutyldiglycolamate ([A336][BDGA]), was synthesized, and its extraction ability of light rare earth elements, namely, La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III) and Nd(III), wascompared with that of other functionalized ionic liquid extractants, including tributylmethylammonium dioctyldiglycolamate and diglycolic amide extractants N,N,N,N-tetrabutyl-3-oxapentane-diamide (TBDGA) and N,N,N,N-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentane-diamide (TODGA). The study of extraction behavior indicated that the ionic liquids exhibited better extraction properties than the amides under lower acidity conditions. The effects of the pH and concentration of the extractant on the extraction behavior of [A336][BDGA] on light rare earths were determined. A separation strategy of mixed light rare earths was investigated by means of extraction chromatography using [A336][BDGA] as the stationary phase. As a result, nearly pure La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III) and Nd(III) were obtained, respectively. A new strategy of separating mixed light rare earths was established by means of extraction chromatography. The stationary phase of [A336][BDGA] was used in this strategy. The four rare earths elements, La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III) and Nd(III), achieved baseline separation.

Increasing the depth of apatite processing by extracting rare-earth elements

“…Presently, promising extractants are amides and ionic liquids. However, it has been noted that when used in a strongly acidic medium, they are also less effective since the extraction deteriorates significantly with acidity increasing [18,19].…”

Synthesis of Quaternary Ammonium Lignin Based Ionic Liquids and Comparison of Extraction Behavior of Co(II) and Ni(II) with 2-Ethylhexyl Phosphoric Acid Mono-2-ethylhexyl Ester

“…The most commonly used amine extractants are tertiary amine and quaternary ammonium salts. The extraction mechanism of metal ions belongs to anion exchange or ion association [56,57]. Cobalt could be extracted (93.6%) from chloride leach liquors of spent nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries in two stages with Alamine 336 [58].…”

Synthesis of Quaternary-Ammonium-Lignin-Based Ionic Liquids and Comparison of Extraction Behavior of Co(II) and Ni(II) with 2-Ethylhexyl Phosphoric Acid Mono-2-Ethylhexyl Ester

“…Tertiary amine and quaternary ammonium salts are extensively utilized as amine extractants, employing anion exchange or ion association as metal ion extraction process [57,58]. Cobalt could be efficiently extracted (93.6%) from chloride leach liquors of spent nickelmetal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries in two stages using Alamine 336 [59].…”