STUDY OF SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANES FOR THE SEPARATION OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS FROM SECONDARY SOURCES

• Grant number: 24/13879-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa
• Grantee: Gabriel Alves de Souza Gonçalves
• 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

Abstract

With technological advances, the demand for strategic materials such as rare earth elements are on the rise. However, their reserves are limited and irregularly distributed, which intensifies the search for alternative sources to meet this demand. The possibility of obtaining these metals from secondary sources, such as mining waste and electronics, has been explored. In aqueous processing (hydrometallurgy), the metals of interest are leached into an aqueous solution in an acidic medium, along with impurities. In aqueous processing (hydrometallurgy), the metals of interest are leached into an aqueous solution in an acidic medium, along with impurities. The main challenge is the separation of these elements, which is intensifying as new sources of critical metals are explored. For this reason, the development of emerging techniques becomes important for the supply of critical materials in the production of green energy. Among the techniques, supported liquid membranes combine the advantages of membranes and solvent extraction. However, studies into the recovery of ETRs using supported liquid membranes have lagged behind in terms of studying the selectivity of the extracting agents, as well as evaluating the ion transport mechanism. In this context, the aim of the research project is to study the mechanism of separation of rare earth elements by supported liquid membranes. The stages of the project are: (1) to study the process parameters, (2) to propose a transport mechanism, (3) to evaluate the loss of extractant during the process, (4) to carry out the mass balance, (5) to study the economic viability and (6) to apply the process in a real liquor. The best conditions for applying the supported liquid membrane technique to recover rare earth elements can then be applied to waste, such as mining or electronics.