The optimization of an ionic liquid-based TALSPEAK-like process for rare earth ions separation

Xiaoqi Sun, Chi Linh Do-Thanh, Huimin Luo, Sheng Dai

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76 Scopus citations

Abstract

Five new functionalized ionic liquids (FILs), tetraethylammonium di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate ([N2222][DEHP]), tetraethylammonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinite ([N2222][BTMPP]), tetraethylammonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinite ([N2222][BTMPDTP]), tetrahexylammonium di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate ([N6666][DEHP]), and tetraoctylammonium di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate ([N8888][DEHP]) were synthesized and characterized. These ILs along with two previously synthesized FILs ([N4444][DEHP] and [N1888][DEHP]) were used as ionic extractants and investigated for rare earth elements (REEs) separation in 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide/bis(perfluoroethanesulfonyl)imide ([C10mim][NTf2]/[BETI]). These FILs as ionic extractants were miscible with [C10mim][NTf2]/[BETI]. We herein report the applications of these FILs in an IL-based TALSPEAK-like process and the optimization of the process by adjusting the cations and anions of the FILs, concentrations of the FILs as ionic extractants in the IL phase, concentrations of diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) in the aqueous phase, and acidities of the aqueous phase.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)392-398
Number of pages7
JournalChemical Engineering Journal
Volume239
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2014

Funding

This research was supported by the US-DOE Office of Science, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences under Contract DE-AC05-0096OR22725 with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed by UT-Battelle, LLC. XQS acknowledges the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) for postdoctoral fellowships. Programmatic support via a DOE SISGR grant “An Integrated Basic Research Program for Advanced Nuclear Energy Separations Systems Based on Ionic Liquids” is gratefully acknowledged.

Keywords

  • Functionalized ionic liquids
  • Rare earth elements
  • Solvent extraction
  • TALSPEAK

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