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Sodium “Activation” of Silano‐Phosphonate Modified Mesoporous TiO 2 Leading to Improved Rare‐Earth Element Extraction
Author(s) -
Moloney Mícheál P.,
Causse Jérémy,
Loubat Cedric,
Grandjean Agnès
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european journal of inorganic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1099-0682
pISSN - 1434-1948
DOI - 10.1002/ejic.201400027
Subject(s) - phosphonate , extraction (chemistry) , mesoporous material , aqueous solution , rare earth , nanocomposite , rare earth element , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , materials science , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , mineralogy , chromatography , organic chemistry , catalysis , engineering
Due to their presence in most modern electronic devices and as waste products in the nuclear cycle, a great deal of interest has been generated in the acquisition and/or recycling/removal of rare‐earth elements (REE). Here, we present a simple one‐pot route for the preparation of dimethylphosphatoethyltriethoxysilane (SiP) functionalised mesoporous TiO 2 particles. The resistance of TiO 2 to strong bases allowed for the use of NaOH to “activate” the phosphonate head group of the functionality, significantly improving its efficiency. Levels of 92.6 mg/g Ce 3+ were extracted from water, which is double the previously reported value for the extraction of REEs with this type of extractant. SiP‐TiO 2 (Na) was also used to separate completely the Ce 3+ from aqueous solutions containing Sr 2+ and Cs + . Finally, the nanocomposite separated Ce 3+ from other homovalent REEs, for example, Yb 3+ (1:1.4 separation ratio).