Ultrasound-Responsive Ionic Liquid for Selective Phase Transition Extraction of Zr(IV) Ions

Abstract

Metal recovery has become a research hotspot because of the surge and release of heavy metals that are harmful to the environment. It is of great significance to explore green and efficient metal recovery methods. Here, we reported on an ultrasoundresponsive ionic liquid N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-(4-sulfobutyl)ammonium nitrate (URIL) for the recovery of zirconium. URIL was provided with controllable reversible phase transition from microspheres to dispersed ions under the action of ultrasound stimulus in an acidic aqueous system. It is believed that the stimuli-responsive phase transition is a desirable property for metal recovery technology. As a practicable example, URIL was applied to metal extraction from acidic solutions, in which the strategy was proved to be efficient and selective. Experimentally, the maximum extraction efficiency to the targeted Zr(IV) species was 97.9%, and the maximum capture quantity was 88.9 mg/g. It also exhibited excellent selectivity to Zr(IV) species, which was 20−70 times that of partial transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides. Our work might be of instructive importance to metal recovery in the field of batteries, desalination, and so forth.

Hydrogen-bonding and π-π interaction promoted solution-processable covalent organic frameworks

“…ILs are a kind of non-molecular compounds entirely composed of ions 45 , 46 . ILs have emerged as a green alternative to conventional organic solvents due to their low vapor pressures, low flammability, good thermal stability, and wide liquid-state window 47 – 52 . In this work, ILs were used as the solvent.…”

Photothermal-Responsive Sponge with Switchable Wettability for Intelligent and Sustainable Moisture Capture and Release

“…Stimuli-responsive materials have received tremendous research attention owing to their switchable functionality under simple external stimuli such as temperature, − pH, − light, , electric field, − mechanical force, and CO 2 . , Such intriguing feature enables stimuli-responsive materials to be one class of the most promising functional materials in various fields including environmental protection, − energy conversion, , and biomedicine. − Among those stimuli-responsive materials, thermal-responsive intelligent materials are particular interesting because of their broad applications involving sensitive temperature changes that can trigger rapid conversion between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. − …”

Extraction and Selective Separation of ZrIV from LnIII/AnIII Using an Undiluted Phosphonium Ionic Liquid

“…[46,47] In addition, using nitrate ILs as extractants can reduce the loss of IL components to the raffinate phase during extraction process and hence diminish pollution to the system based on the common ion effect of anion (the feed phase for spent fuel extraction is a nitric acid system with high acidity) and high hydrophobicity of cation. [48] As far as Zr(IV) extraction in an ionic liquid medium is concerned, there are very few reports with different intents available in the literature. [49][50][51][52] From spent nuclear fuel reprocessing point of view, there is only literature available wherein, the selective extraction of Zr(IV) from U(VI) has been highlighted.…”

“…[48] As far as Zr(IV) extraction in an ionic liquid medium is concerned, there are very few reports with different intents available in the literature. [49][50][51][52] From spent nuclear fuel reprocessing point of view, there is only literature available wherein, the selective extraction of Zr(IV) from U(VI) has been highlighted. [52] However, in this report, the presence of an additional coordinating ligand was inevitable in conjunction with IL diluent (bistriflimide based ammonium IL) for achieving significant extraction of Zr(IV).…”