Carrier-mediated transport of rare earth elements through liquid membranes

Transport of tervalent REEs–Sc, Y, Ce, Eu, Gd, Tm, Yb—from nitrate medium through flat-sheet SLM containing DEHPA in n-dodecane, supported on a nucleoporous filter, has been studied. Influences of both aqueous phase acidities, concentrations of metal and carrier were investigated. Transport courses of the metals in question had been obtained and their premeation coefficients or initial fluxes were evaluated. Separation of some binary mixtures Ce–Tm, Ce–Yb, Ce–Sc was experimentally achieved.     

Carrier-mediated transport of rare earth elements through liquid membranes

Transport of tervalent REEs — Sc, Y, Ce, Eu, Gd, Tm, Yb — from nitrate medium through a liquid membrane containing TBP in n-dodecane, impregnated on a flat-sheet nucleoporous support, has been studied as a function of time and initial metal concentration, salting-out agent concentration and pH of the feed phase. Influences of various complexing agents dissolved in the strip phase was investigated, too. Adding a suitable amount of EDTA into the feed phase, separation of binary mixtures of REEs was experimentally achieved.     

Carrier-mediated transport of yttrium(III) through a supported liquid membrane containing TOPO in n-dodecane

Transport of yttrium(III) from nitrate medium through liquid membrane containing tri-n-octyl-phosphine oxide (TOPO) in n-dodecane, supported on a nucleoporous filter, into a strip solution with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been studied. The kinetic dependences of transport were obtained and compared with a model, resulting in calculation of permeability coeffients and initial fluxes of yttrium. The influence of salting-out agent, initial metal and nitric acid concentrations in the feed, and of concentration of carrier in membrane are discussed.     

Transport of carbonate ions through supported liquid membrane by using Alamine 336 and trioctylphosphine oxide as carriers

Abstract

Transport studies were carried out for carbonate ions through supported liquid membrane (SLMs) by using Alamine 336 and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as carriers. Experimental variables were investigated, such as concentration of carbonate ion (10^?5 to 4×10^?2 M), carriers (10^?5 to 10^?1 M), and alkali (0.01–0.5); and stirring speed (50–150 rpm) of bulk solutions. The use of combined carriers Alamine 336 and TOPO shows a synergic transport of carbonate ions. The stability of the SLM system in relation to the transport of carbonate ions has been studied. The enrichment of carbonate ions (10^?6 to 4×10^?2 M) from the dilute solution was explored. The different combinations of amines with TOPO show synergic permeability of the carbonate ions through SLM system.     

Extraction of rare earth elements with organophosphorus extractants as carriers in supported liquid membranes

The membrane extraction of Y, Ce, Eu, Tm and their binary mixtures Ce–Y, Ce–Eu, Ce–Tm with supported liquid membranes containing TBP and HDEHP as carriers in decanedodecane hydrocarbon solvent, has been studied. Upon extraction with TBP aqueous nitrate solutions of rare earth elements (REE) were used as feed phase. In some cases they also contained EDTA or DCTA. In most cases, the receiving phase was an aqueous solution of EDTA. Extraction with HDEHP was performed from nitrate and chloride solutions and the receiving phase was the corresponding dilute acid. Pertraction of an element through a membrane was studied as a function of time and of initial composition of phases. The results are presented in the following forms: flux of metal through membrane, coefficients of permeability, separation factors and effective diffusion coefficients.     

Studies on ion transport of some rare earth elements through solvating extractants immobilised on supported liquid membrane

The studies on ion transport of terbium and dysprosium through a porous supported liquid membrane (SLM) containing TOPO (trioctyl phosphine oxide) and TBP (tributyl phosphate) as immobilised carriers have been carried out. The effect of stirring of bulk solutions on permeability coefficient has been investigated. The permeability coefficient increases with increase in pH of source phase from 0–6, and hydrogen ion concentration from 0.01 to 0.1 M of receiving solution. The dependency of permeability coefficient on the carrier concentration has been explored. The effect of ammonium thiocyanate concentration on permeability coefficient has been studied. In order to develop a method for enrichment of rare earth elements, further investigations were carried out by using a hollow fibre membrane extractor. The mechanism of ion transport of terbium and dysprosium in SLM systems has been explained.     

Solvent extraction of U(VI) by trioctylphosphine oxide using a room-temperature ionic liquid

The unique physical and chemical properties of room-temperature ionic liquids(RTILs) have recently received increasing attention as solvent alternatives for possible application in the field of nuclear industry, particularly in liquid-liquid separations of radioactive nuclides. We investigated solvent extraction of U(VI) from aqueous solutions into a commonly used ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide([C4mim][NTf2]) using trioctylphosphine oxide(TOPO) as an extractant. The effects of contact time, TOPO concentration, acidity, and nitrate ions on the U(VI) extraction are discussed in detail. The extraction mechanism was proposed based on slope analysis and UV-Vis measurement. The results clearly show that TOPO/[C4mim][NTf2] provides a highly efficient extraction of U(VI) from aqueous solution under near-neutral conditions. When the TOPO concentration was 10 mmol/L, the extraction of 1 mmol/L U(VI) was almost complete( 97%). Both the extraction efficiency and distribution coefficient were much larger than in conventional organic solvents such as dichloromethane. Slope analysis confirmed that three TOPO molecules in [C4mim][NTf2] bound with one U(VI) ion and one nitrate ion was also involved in the complexation and formed the final extracted species of [UO2(NO3)(TOPO)3]+. Such a complex suggests that extraction occurs by a cation-exchange mode, which was subsequently evidenced by the fact that the concentration of C4mim+ in the aqueous phase increased linearly with the extraction percent of U(VI) recorded by UV-Vis measurement.     

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopic determination of rare earth elements in geological samples after preconcentration by countercurrent chromatography—Part II

This paper directly links up with Part I [Spectrochim. Acta 48B, 1365 (1993)] which treats the first application of countercurrent chromatography (CCC) for pre-separation of rare earth elements (REE) in rocks. The rapid and reliable separation and pre-concentration of “light” REE and Y can be achieved using a system of 0.5 mol/l di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid (D2EHPA) in n-decane-hydrochloric acid of different concentrations and a planetary centrifuge as a CCC device. However, Tm, Yb and Lu are partially retained in the stationary phase. Comparative data is presented on three other two-phase liquid systems containing trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO); D2EHPA and TOPO mixtures and diphenyl(dibutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine)oxide (Ph₂-Bu₂) as extractants in terms of their ability for whole REE group complete isolation from the rock constituents. The partial losses of “light” REE (La and Ce) occurred in the system of 0.1 mol/l solution of TOPO in isobutylmethylketone (IBMK) (stationary phase)-1 mol/l NH₄NO₃-6 mol/l HCl aqueous solutions (mobile phase). Complete isolution of the entire REE group can be reached in two systems: 0.3 mol/l D2EHPA + 0.02 ml/l TOPO in the solvents mixture (3:1) of n-decane + IBMK, respectively (stationary phase)-1 mol/l NH₄NO₃-6 mol/l HCl aqueous solution (mobile phase), and 1.0 mol/l Ph₂-Bu₂ solution in chloroform (stationary phase)-3 mol/l HNO₃ aqueous solution (mobile phase). The D2EHPA + TOPO mixture is recommended as more economic and accessible.     

Transport of ionic species through functionalized poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) membranes

Solid polymeric membranes of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) (VBC), lightly crosslinked with divinyl benzene, were incompletely reacted such that a fraction of the benzyl chlorines in different membranes was replaced with either dimethyl phosphonate esters (MPE) or triethyl ammonium chloride groups (QA). This work was conducted in an effort to investigate ionic transport through charged and uncharged membranes and to develop fixed site carrier membranes to facilitate the transport of selected metal ions from an aqueous feed stream to a concentrated acid receiving stream. Bulk solution flow does not occur through these membranes. Instead, solute diffusion occurs through the membrane matrix. The effects of hydrogen ion gradient, metal ion identity and charge, reactive site type, acid type, and ionic strength on metal ion transport were investigated. Results are also presented on the effect of membrane orientation and pretreatment (swelling) on metal ion transport. Facilitated transport was investigated through the testing of membranes with varying MPE percent functionalization. The results presented compare the metal ion transport rate to the functionalization of the membranes.     

Dialkylphosphoric acids as carriers in separation of lanthanides and thorium on supported liquid membranes

Permeation of seven lanthanides (Ln) and thorium through a supported liquid membrane containing di-(n- octyl)phosphoric (DOPA) or di-(n-pentyl)phosphoric (DPPA) acid as a carrier has been studied as a function of the chemical composition of the system. The results have been compared with a previous study in which di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid was used. Metal cations were transported from feed solutions of pH 1.1-4.8 (HNO(3)) into strip solutions of 0.015-0.1 mol l(-1) nitric acid. The ionic strength was kept constant at 0.1 mol l(-1) (HNO(3), KNO(3)). The initial lanthanide concentration and carrier concentration in the liquid membrane were varied from 0.5 to 500 mumol l(-1) and from 0.01 to 0.5 mol l(-1) respectively. To describe the mass transfer of metal cations, permeability coefficients have been determined by inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy or by on-line flow-injection analysis of metal concentrations in strip or feed solution. Probably as the result of a higher solubility of the carrier in aqueous media, transport of Ln with DPPA was not observed. By using DOPA, La, Ce, Pr, and Nd permeated through the membrane while transport of heavier Ln was partly or totally suppressed. This enables these four Ln (separation factor alpha = 3.0 for Nd and Sm) to be separated from the others. Furthermore, at a very low acidity gradient, only La (III) is transported over the membrane (alpha >/= 3.4 for La, Ce and next Ln). The seven elements from La to Tb can be separated from Th(IV) because no evidence of its permeation through the membrane was found under the conditions of Ln transport. In contrast to previous studies on Ln transport with dialkylphosphoric acid carrier, the possibility of participation of species other than Ln(AHA)(3) in the transport has been discussed. The decrease of permeability observed at higher Ln concentrations and higher pH of the feed solution has been explained as the result of formation of species, e.g. polymeric ones, that are unable to permeate through the membrane.     

Competitive transport of seven metal cations through bulk liquid membrane using 5,12-di(phenoxymethyl)-1,4-dioxa-7, 10-dithiacyclododecane-2,3-dione as carrier

The competitive metal ion transport of copper(II), cobalt(II), zinc(II), cadmium(II), silver(I), chromium(III) and lead(II) with a S-O donor compound was examined. Competitive transport experiments involving the metal cations from an aqueous source phase through an organic membrane into an aqueous receiving phase have been carried out using 5,12-di(phenoxymethyl)-1,4-dioxa-7,10-dithiacyclododecane-2,3-dione as the ionophore present in the organic phase. Fluxes and selectivities for competitive metal cations transport across bulk liquid membranes have been determined in a variety of chlorinated hydrocarbon and aromatic hydrocarbon solvents. The membrane solvents include: dichloromethane (DCM), chloroform (CHCl₃), 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE), and nitrobenzene (NB) and also in chloroform-dichloromethane (CHCl₃-DCM) and chloroform-nitrobenzene (CHCl₃-NB) binary mixtures. Although the selectivity for silver(I) cation in all of these organic solvents is fundamentally similar, but the most transport rate for Ag(I) was obtained in dichloromethane. The sequence of transport rate for silver ion in organic solvents was: DCM > CHCl₃ > 1,2-DCE > NB. A linear relationship was observed between the transport rate of silver ion and the composition of CHCl₃-DCM, but a non-linear behavior was observed in the case of CHCl₃-NB binary solution. The influence of the stearic, palmetic and oleic acids as surfactant in the membrane phase on the transport of the metal cations was also investigated.     

A New Extraction System Based on Isopropyl Salicylate and Trioctylphosphine Oxide for Separating Alkali Metals

It was established that isopropyl salicylate can be used similarly to 1,3-diketones as a key component for a new efficient extraction system for selective separation of alkali metal cations. According to DFT modeling of complexes of isopropyl salicylate and 1,3-diketone with alkali metal cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺), six-membered metallacycles are formed whose stability decreases along the series Li > Na > K, which results in the observed enhanced affinity to lithium. The extraction ability of isopropyl salicylate is manifested in the presence of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO). The newly obtained complexes of isopropyl salicylate with alkali metal cations as well as their extracts in a mixture with TOPO are characterized by means of FT-IR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopy. The probable structure of the extracted lithium complex is presumed and the role of TOPO in the extraction process is investigated in detail. Extraction experiments showed extremely high separation coefficients for Li/Na and Li/K pairs in the extraction from a model multi-component solution.     

Crystal structures, phase-transition, and photoluminescence of rare earth carbodiimides

Rare earth carbodiimides with the general formula RE 2(CN 2) 3 crystallize with two modifications. A monoclinic( C2/m) modification is obtained for RE = Y, Ce-Tm and a rhombohedral ( R3 c) modification for RE = Tm-Lu. The space group R3 c is confirmed by single-crystal structure determination on Lu 2(CN 2) 3 and indexed powder patterns of RE = Tm, Yb and Lu. The use of diverse chemical syntheses conditions for Tm 2(CN 2) 3 revealed the dimorphic character of this compound. In addition, pressure experiments on Tm 2(CN 2) 3 have induced a phase-transition from rhombohedral to monoclinic. This transformation comprises an increase of the coordination number of Tm from 6 to 7, and a unit-cell volume reduction in the order of 20 %. The photoluminescence behavior of lanthanide doped Gd 2(CN 2) 3:Ln samples is presented with different activators (Ln = Ce, Tb) revealing a broad band emission of Gd 2(CN 2) 3:Ce, quite similar to that of the well-known YAG:Ce.     

Formation of coordination compounds in gadolinium-loaded liquid organic scintillators (GdLS): Use of mixed-ligand gadolinium complexes in GdLS preparation

The formation of coordination compounds between gadolinium 2-methylvalerate (Gd(2MVA)₃) and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) in a gadolinium-loaded liquid scintillator (GdLS) solution was studied by MALDI-TOF MS. The most abundant gadolinium-containing compound in the GdLS solution in the presence of TOPO is the monomer complex Gd(2MVA)₃ · (TOPO)₂. In the absence of TOPO, the solution contains only Gd _n (2MVA)_3n (n = 2–5) association species. Therefore, TOPO prevents carboxylate polymerization in the solution and can be used as a stabilizer of the gadolinium compounds in GdLS. The existence of the Gd(2MVA)₃ · TOPO complex is confirmed by IR spectroscopy. The possibility of coordination between Gd(2MVA)₃ and 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO), the most common scintillation admixture, has been investigated. No complexes between Gd(2MVA)₃ and PPO have been detected by MALDI-TOF MS in the scintillator solution. IR spectroscopic data also do not provide any unambiguous indication of coordination between Gd(2MVA)₃ and PPO.     

Liquid membrane transport of lanthanoid elements using organophosphinic acid

Transport of La, Nd, Eu, Tb, Tm and Lu through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) was investigated by using di(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (DTMPPA) as a mobile carrier. Lanthanoid elements in the feed solution were quantitatively transported and concentrated into the product solution of mild acidity. The transport rates increased with increasing atomic number of lanthanoids in the low pH region of the feed solution. Separation factors evaluated from the transport rates for lanthanoids were close to those from the distribution ratios in liquid-liquid extraction.     

Multitracer study on permeation of rare earth elements through a supported liquid membrane

Separation by means of supported liquid membranes is a useful method for the preparation and preconcentration of radioactive nuclides. The permeation of rare earth elements through a bis(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate-decalin membrane supported on a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene sheet was studied using a multitracer containing radioactive nuclides of Sc, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ce, Pm, Gd, Yb, and Lu. Permeation rates of these elements from feed solutions of various acidity to receiving solutions of 0.5 mol·dm⁻³ HCl were determined simultaneously. The feed solution at pH 1.4 gave the highest permeation rate for Ce, Pm, and Gd, amounting to about 95% of permeation for Ce and Pm, 80% for Gd, and 10% for Yb in 21 h. Scandium, Zr, Nb, Hf, and Lu were not transported at all from the feed solution. Permeation rates of Yb and Lu from the feed solution at pH 1.4 to receiving solutions of 0.75, 1.0, 2.3, and 4.0 mol·dm⁻³ HCl increased with the concentration. The results obtained indicate that the light rare earth elements can be separated from the heavy ones by this method.     

Studies on the Redox Properties of Rare Earth Heteropoly Tungstoarsenate K_17[Ln(As_2W_17O_61)_2]·xH_2O

The redox properties of K17[Ln(As2W17O61)2](Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Tm or Yb) in solution were investigated using polarographic and cyclic voltammographic methods. Experimental results indicate that the heteropolyanions underwent three-step-two-electron-tungsten-reduction processes, and each reduction process was accompanied by adding two protons.     

Lanthanide(III) complexes with a tetrapyridine pendant-armed macrocyclic ligand: 1H NMR structural determination in solution, X-ray diffraction, and density-functional theory calculations

Complexes between the tetrapyridyl pendant-armed macrocyclic ligand (L) and the trivalent lanthanide ions have been synthesized, and structural studies have been made both in the solid state and in aqueous solution. The crystal structures of the La, Ce, Pr, Gd, Tb, Er, and Tm complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, all the cation complexes show a 10-coordinated geometry close to a distorted bicapped antiprism, with the pyridine pendants situated alternatively above and below the main plane of the macrocycle. The conformations of the two five-membered chelate rings present in the complexes change along the lanthanide series. The La(III) and Ce(III) complexes show a lambdadelta (or deltalambda) conformation, while the complexes of the heavier lanthanide ions present lambdalambda (or deltadelta) conformation. The cationic [Ln(L)]3+ complexes (Ln = La, Pr, Eu, Tb, and Tm) were also characterized by theoretical calculations at the density-functional theory (DFT) B3LYP level. The theoretical calculations predict a stabilization of the lambdalambda (or deltadelta) conformation on decreasing the ionic radius of the Ln(III) ion, in agreement with the experimental evidence. The solution structures show a good agreement with the calculated ones, as demonstrated by paramagnetic NMR measurements (lanthanide induced shifts and relaxation rate enhancements). The 1H NMR spectra indicate an effective D2 symmetry of the complexes in D2O solution. The 1H lanthanide induced shifts (LIS) observed for the Ce(III), Tm(III), and Yb(III) complexes can be fit to a theoretical model assuming that dipolar contributions are dominant for all protons. The resulting calculated values are consistent with highly rhombic magnetic susceptibility tensors with the magnetic axes being coincident with the symmetry axes of the molecule. In contrast with the solid-state structure, the analysis of the LIS data indicates that the Ce(III) complexes present a lambdalambda (or deltadelta) conformation in solution.     

Highly selective transport of a uranyl ion through a liquid membrane containing a lipophilic ion-associate of methyltrioctylammonium and hydroxycalix[n]arene-p-sulfonates (n = 6, 8) as metal carriers.

Uranyl ion, UO2(2+), in an aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution of pH 4-8 (source phase) was simultaneously and selectively transported into a dilute sulfuric acid solution (receiving phase) through a membrane (chloroform, bulk) containing a lipophilic ion-associate of methyltrioctylammonium ion and hydroxycalix[n]arene-p-sulfonate ion, 2n (n = 6, 8), MTA+-2n, as a metal carrier. The rate of transport increased in proportion to the concentrations of UO2(2+) in the source phase and carrier in the membrane and along with an increase in the temperature of the system. The rate was also increased along with an increase in the pH of the source phase. None of the other metal ions were transported, or obstructed the transport of UO2(2+), while the presence of large amounts of sodium hydrogencarbonate and sodium chloride in the source phase interfered with the transport by causing a delay in the start of transport.     

Separation of 99mTc from 99Mo by Using TOPO — Kerosene Supported Liquid Membrane

Transport of ^99mTcO₄ ^– ions across TOPO-kerosene based supported liquid membrane was investigated at different concentrations of phosphoric acid as a feed solution and different concentrations of TOPO in the membrane, where 0.9% NaCl aqueous solution was used as a stripping solution. The flux of TcO₄ ^– ions across this liquid membrane varied with the concentration of both H₃PO₄ and TOPO. The best permeability coefficient was obtained at concentrations, [H₃PO₄] = 3 mole·l^–1 and [TOPO] = 0.5 mole·l^–1 (P = 2.08·10^–9 m²·s^–1). The results were utilized for the separation of ^99mTc from ⁹⁹Mo, where a selective and effective separation was obtained since no ⁹⁹Mo transport across this liquid membrane was noticed while a high rate of ^99mTc transport took place.