Study of Metal Ion Adsorption of Commercial Interest on Adsorbents Based on Cucurbit(6 and 8)urils.

• Grant number: 24/22921-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Grégoire Jean-François Demets
• Grantee: Lucas Victor Macri
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The project proposes the use of cucurbit[6 and 8]urils for the separation and concentration of commercially valuable metals such as Co, Ag, Au, among others, derived from electronic waste after digestion in acidic or basic media. The macrocycles will be utilized both in their pure powdered form and immobilized on polyurethane sponges of the "Cubion" type (patented by us), thereby simplifying the separation process. The adsorbates will be chemically and/or electrochemically treated to recover these metals at the end of the process.