Elucidation of the organometallic complexation mechanism between organic extractants and rare earth elements

• Grant number: 21/14842-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa
• Grantee: Amilton Barbosa Botelho Junior
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/11866-5 - Development of innovative processes for the recovery of critical metals, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/01032-5 - Separation of critical metals through supported liquid membrane: evaluation of synergistic interaction between organophosphorus and membranes, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The main problem in separating rare earth metals into pure products (over 99%) is due to two reasons. The first is because of the low concentration in which these metals are usually present in solution (concentrations below 10ppm), and second because of the chemical similarity. For this reason, companies commercialize oxides of several rare earth elements, this product with a lower added value than if they were pure oxides. The main technique used for solvent separation. Although the technique is used because of its high separation capacity compared to others, it is still not possible to separate the main rare earth elements from the lanthanide group (such as lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and praseodymium). Recent studies point to the possibility of using a mixture of organic extractants to increase the separation capacity. Thus, the present research project will study the formation of organometallic complexes, that is, organic solvents and rare earth elements. The first three rare earth metals that will be covered will be lanthanum, cerium and neodymium, mainly due to their applications in green technologies. Others can be discussed, such as praseodymium, yttrium and scandium. The organic extractants that will be studied are Cyanex 923, Versatic 10 and D2EHPA. The extractants will be diluted in kerosene and mixed with the aqueous solution containing the rare earth metals. After the reaction, the aqueous solution will be analyzed in ICP-OES, and the organic phase will be analyzed in FT-IR.

Scientific publications

(8)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DOMINGOS, ANA ELUIZA ESTHER DA CUNHA; BOTELHO JUNIOR, AMILTON BARBOSA; DUARTE, HEITOR AUGUSTO; TENORIO, JORGE ALBERTO SOARES; ESPINOSA, DENISE CROCCE ROMANO; BALTAZAR, MARCELA DOS PASSOS GALLUZZI. Extraction of Critical Metals from Secondary Source: Leaching Ti and V from Brazilian Fe-Ti-V Deposit Residue. JOM, v. 75, n. 5, p. 10-pg., 2023-03-14. (19/11866-5, 21/14842-0, 12/51871-9)

TOSS, ELENA KALININ; FEIJOO, GUSTAVO COELHO; BOTELHO, AMILTON BARBOSA; ESPINOSA, DENISE CROCCE ROMANO; BALTAZAR, MARCELA DOS PASSOS GALLUZZI; TENORIO, JORGE ALBERTO SOARES. Sustainable Approach for Nickel and Cadmium Removal: Adsorption Experiments Using a Low-Cost Material from Industrial Sites. JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE METALLURGY, v. 9, n. 2, p. 11-pg., 2023-05-17. (19/11866-5, 21/14842-0, 12/51871-9)

VASCONCELOS, DAVID DA SILVA; TENORIO, JORGE ALBERTO SOARES; BOTELHO JUNIOR, AMILTON BARBOSA; ESPINOSA, DENISE CROCCE ROMANO. Circular Recycling Strategies for LFP Batteries: A Review Focusing on Hydrometallurgy Sustainable Processing. METALS, v. 13, n. 3, p. 28-pg., 2023-03-01. (19/11866-5, 21/14842-0, 20/00493-0)

GUIMARAES, LUCAS FONSECA; BOTELHO JUNIOR, AMILTON BARBOSA; ESPINOSA, DENISE CROCCE ROMANO. The Characterization of Li-ion Batteries and the Importance of the Recycling Processes. JOM, v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2023-07-06. (19/11866-5, 21/14842-0, 20/00493-0)

BOTELHO, AMILTON BARBOSA; DA SILVA, NATALIA OLIM MARTINS; TENORIO, JORGE ALBERTO SOARES; ESPINOSA, DENISE CROCCE ROMANO. Structure Investigation of La, Y, and Nd Complexes in Solvent Extraction Process with Liquid Phosphine Oxide, Phosphinic Acid, and Amine Extractants. METALS, v. 13, n. 8, p. 16-pg., 2023-08-01. (19/11866-5, 21/14842-0, 23/01032-5)

BOTELHO, A. B.; DA SILVA, M. D. C. R.; CAMARGO, P. S. S.; MUNCHEN, D. D.; CENCI, M. P.; BERTUOL, D. A.; VEIT, H. M.; TENORIO, J. A. S.; ESPINOSA, D. C. R.. Electronic waste in emerging countries: current scenario of generation, policies, and recycling technologies regarding the coronavirus pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 20-pg., 2023-08-06. (19/11866-5, 21/14842-0, 20/00493-0)

PREMATHILAKE, DILSHAN SANDARUWAN; BOTELHO JUNIOR, AMILTON BARBOSA; TENORIO, JORGE ALBERTO SOARES; ESPINOSA, DENISE CROCCE ROMANO; VACCARI, MENTORE. Designing of a Decentralized Pretreatment Line for EOL-LIBs Based on Recent Literature of LIB Recycling for Black Mass. METALS, v. 13, n. 2, p. 34-pg., 2023-02-01. (19/11866-5, 21/14842-0, 20/00493-0, 12/51871-9)

BOTELHO JUNIOR, AMILTON BARBOSA; TENORIO, JORGE ALBERTO SOARES; ESPINOSA, DENISE CROCCE ROMANO. Separation of Critical Metals by Membrane Technology under a Circular Economy Framework: A Review of the State-of-the-Art. PROCESSES, v. 11, n. 4, p. 24-pg., 2023-04-01. (19/11866-5, 21/14842-0, 20/00493-0)