Investigating the use of an ionic liquid for rare earth mineral flotation

A review of flotation reagents for bastnäsite-(Ce) rare earth ore

Given the indispensability and immense value of rare earth elements for scientific and technological advancements in the 21st century, extracting high-quality rare earth resources from nature has become a global priority. Bastnäsite-(Ce) is one of the known rare earth minerals with high rare earth content and wide distribution, which occupies a pivotal position in human life and high-end production activities, making its efficient development and utilization crucial. In recent years, research on separating bastnäsite-(Ce) from gangue minerals has focused on the flotation process, with flotation reagents playing a critical role in achieving effective separation. This paper provides a detailed summary of current research on the behavior of bastnäsite-(Ce) flotation agents on minerals, their interaction with mineral surfaces during flotation separation, and outlines future prospects for further research.

Simulation study of the mechanism of mesoscopic adsorption and the evolution of molecular dynamics of a surfactant/polymer composite on the surface of low rank coal

In this paper, the head group, tail group, and main chain of a single type of surfactant were constructed by a mesoscopic simulation, and the interaction between the simulated surfactant and coal dust both on its own and in a composite with polyacrylamide (PAM) was studied. The molecular adsorption behavior of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) surfactant mixed in different ratios with PAM was also experimentally characterized. The results showed that. From the above results, we can see that CTAC and PAM can form spherical, rod-shaped, and wormlike aggregates and a network structure as their volume fraction increases in an aqueous solution. The energy spectrum showed that when CTAC adsorbed on the surface of the coal, the content of carbon on the surface decreased from 63.8 to 50.4%, and the content of oxygen increased from 35.2 to 41.8%. The study on the adsorption mechanism of surfactants and polymers on the surface of low rank coal and the hydrophilicity of low rank coal is of great significance in developing efficient dust prevention technology for low rank coal to reduce coal dust pollution.

Influencing the froth flotation of LiAlO2 and melilite solid solution with ionic liquids

In the present work experiments for single mineral flotation against LiAlO₂ and melilite s.s. were carried out for seven ionic liquids (ILs). From these, IL-1 with an imidazolium cation and a bromide anion and IL-7 with a pyridinium cation and a bromide anion were selected for further flotation experiments (dosage, pH). Flotation experiments were also conducted using naphthenic acid, a conventional flotation fatty acid-based collector, and FS-2, a commercial collector in order to compare the results with ILs. Moreover, the effects of different anions in the ILs on the flotation were evaluated and a significant influence on the hardness of anions was found on the flotation process. Finally, a pre-functionalization was also explored with modified cholesterol derivatives, comparing the effect of cholesterylsulfate and cholesterylphosphate on the flotation of LiAlO₂ and melilite s.s. This study is vital for the further optimization of lithium recovery from the pyrometallurgical recycling path of lithium-ion batteries and the flotation of primary minerals such as aluminosilicates.

Quantification of Peptide-Bound Particles: A Phage Mimicking Approach via Site-Selective Immobilization on Glass

The increasing complexity and need of high-tech materials for modern electronics raise the demand for rare earth elements. While recycling rates are still negligible for most elements, geopolitical tensions, circular economy, and the aim for a carbon-neutral society put pressure on conventional supply strategies and emphasize the need for new ideas for recycling. Our research group works on the development of phage surface display (PSD)-derived peptide-based recycling methods for electronic waste. This study focuses on LaPO4:Ce,Tb (LAP), a component of electronic waste from compact energy-saving lamps containing rare earth element-enriched fluorescent powders. While free solution-phase peptides show little to no interaction with the target material, we re-enabled the binding capability by immobilizing them on various glass supports. We shine a spotlight on the transition from phage-bound to free peptides and present the first proof of successful peptide-LAP particle interactions of previously reported PSD-derived sequences. Therefore, we introduce a method to investigate peptide-particle-interactions qualitatively and quantitatively. Additionally, a calibration curve allowed the quantification of peptide-bound particles. Combined with the quantification of the immobilized peptide on the surface, it was possible to calculate a potential dosage of peptides for future recycling processes.