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Rocha RA, Alexandrov K, Scott C. Rare earth elements in biology: From biochemical curiosity to solutions for extractive industries. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14503. [PMID: 38829373 PMCID: PMC11146143 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical for our modern lifestyles and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Recent advances in our understanding of the role of REEs in biology, particularly methylotrophy, have provided opportunities to explore biotechnological innovations to improve REE mining and recycling. In addition to bacterial accumulation and concentration of REEs, biological REE binders, including proteins (lanmodulin, lanpepsy) and small molecules (metallophores and cofactors) have been identified that enable REE concentration and separation. REE-binding proteins have also been used in several mechanistically distinct REE biosensors, which have potential application in mining and medicine. Notably, the role of REEs in biology has only been known for a decade, suggesting their considerable scope for developing new understanding and novel applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel A. Rocha
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic BiologyCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
- CSIRO Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform, Black Mountain Science and Innovation ParkCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Kirill Alexandrov
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic BiologyCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
- Centre for Agriculture and the BioeconomyQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- School of Biology and Environmental ScienceQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Colin Scott
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic BiologyCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
- CSIRO Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform, Black Mountain Science and Innovation ParkCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
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2
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Hussain Z, Dwivedi D, Kwon I. Recovery of rare earth elements from low-grade coal fly ash using a recyclable protein biosorbent. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1385845. [PMID: 38817924 PMCID: PMC11137179 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1385845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs), including those in the lanthanide series, are crucial components essential for clean energy transitions, but they originate from geographically limited regions. Exploiting new and diverse supply sources is vital to facilitating a clean energy future. Hence, we explored the recovery of REEs from coal fly ash (FA), a complex, low-grade industrial feedstock that is currently underutilized (leachate concentrations of REEs in FA are < 0.003 mol%). Herein, we demonstrated the thermo-responsive genetically encoded REE-selective elastin-like polypeptides (RELPs) as a recyclable bioengineered protein adsorbent for the selective retrieval of REEs from coal fly ash over multiple cycles. The results showed that RELPs could be efficiently separated using temperature cycling and reused with high stability, as they retained ∼95% of their initial REE binding capacity even after four cycles. Moreover, RELPs selectively recovered high-purity REEs from the simulated solution containing one representative REE in the range of 0.0001-0.005 mol%, resulting in up to a 100,000-fold increase in REE purity. This study offers a sustainable approach to diversifying REE supplies by recovering REEs from low-grade coal fly ash in industrial wastes and provides a scientific basis for the extraction of high-purity REEs for industrial purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Inchan Kwon
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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3
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Ye Q, Wang D, Wei N. Engineering biomaterials for the recovery of rare earth elements. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:575-590. [PMID: 37985335 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The escalating global demand for rare earth elements (REEs) and the overabundance of REE-containing waste require innovative technologies for REE recovery from waste to achieve a sustainable supply of REEs while reducing the environmental burden. Biosorption mediated by peptides or proteins has emerged as a promising approach for selective REE recovery. To date, multiple peptides and proteins with high REE-binding affinity and selectivity have been discovered, and various strategies are being exploited to engineer robust and reusable biosorptive materials for selective REE recovery. This review highlights recent advances in discovering and engineering peptides and proteins for REE recovery. Future research prospects and challenges are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanhui Ye
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Na Wei
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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Verma G, Hostert J, Summerville AA, Robang AS, Garcia Carcamo R, Paravastu AK, Getman RB, Duval CE, Renner J. Investigation of Rare Earth Element Binding to a Surface-Bound Affinity Peptide Derived from EF-Hand Loop I of Lanmodulin. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:16912-16926. [PMID: 38527460 PMCID: PMC10995902 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c17565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Bioinspired strategies have been given extensive attention for the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from waste streams because of their high selectivity, regeneration potential, and sustainability as well as low cost. Lanmodulin protein is an emerging biotechnology that is highly selective for REE binding. Mimicking lanmodulin with shorter peptides is advantageous because they are simpler and potentially easier to manipulate and optimize. Lanmodulin-derived peptides have been found to bind REEs, but their properties have not been explored when immobilized on solid substrates, which is required for many advanced separation technologies. Here, two peptides, LanM1 and scrambled LanM1, are designed from the EF-hand loop 1 of lanmodulin and investigated for their binding affinity toward different REEs when surface-bound. First, the ability of LanM1 to bind REEs was confirmed and characterized in solution using circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for Ce(III) ions. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to further analyze the binding of the LanM1 to Ce(III), Nd(III), Eu(III), and Y(III) ions and in low-pH conditions. The performance of the immobilized peptides on a model gold surface was examined using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). The studies show that the LanM1 peptide has a stronger REE binding affinity than that of scrambled LanM1 when in solution and when immobilized on a gold surface. QCM-D data were fit to the Langmuir adsorption model to estimate the surface-bound dissociation constant (Kd) of LanM1 with Ce(III) and Nd(III). The results indicate that LanM1 peptides maintain a high affinity for REEs when immobilized, and surface-bound LanM1 has no affinity for potential competitor calcium and copper ions. The utility of surface-bound LanM1 peptides was further demonstrated by immobilizing them to gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and capturing REEs from solution in experiments utilizing an Arsenazo III-based colorimetric dye displacement assay and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry. The saturated adsorption capacity of GNPs was estimated to be around 3.5 μmol REE/g for Ce(III), Nd(III), Eu(III), and Y(III) ions, with no binding of non-REE Ca(II) ions observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geeta Verma
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Jacob Hostert
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Alex A. Summerville
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Alicia S. Robang
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Ricardo Garcia Carcamo
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Anant K. Paravastu
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Parker
H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Rachel B. Getman
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Christine E. Duval
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Julie Renner
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
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Jiang X, Wang M, Lou Z, Han H, Yan N, Guan Q, Xu L. Selective and Controlled Release Responsive Nanoparticles with Adsorption-Pairing Synergy for Anthocyanin Extraction. ACS NANO 2024; 18:2290-2301. [PMID: 38207222 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Anthocyanins with different structures have different anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Precise structural use can improve the chemopreventive effects of anthocyanins and enhance treatment outcomes because the anthocyanin structure influences its functional sites and activities. However, owing to the available variety of anthocyanins and their complex structures, the low matching of intermolecular forces between existing adsorbents and anthocyanins limits the targeted separation of anthocyanin monomers. Short-range and efficient selective binding, which is difficult to achieve, is the current focus in the extraction field. We here developed self-assembled Fe3O4-based nano adsorbers with different surface modifications based on adsorption-pairing synergy. The electrostatic force, coordination bond, hydrogen bond, and π-π* bond together induced selective adsorption between Fe3O4 nanoparticles and anthocyanin molecules. An acid-release solution disrupted the polarity balance in the aforementioned association system, thereby promoting the controlled release of anthocyanins. Among the candidates, the effects of morphology, particle size, surface charge, and functional group on adsorption performance were analyzed. The polyacrylamide-modified magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were found to be favorable for selectively extracting anthocyanin, with an adsorption capacity of 19.74 ± 0.07 mg g-1. The release percentage of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside reached up to 98.6% ± 1.4%. This study offers a scientific basis for developing feasible nanotechniques to extract anthocyanins and plant active substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xizhi Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Protected Agricultural Engineering in the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Biomass Composites and Addictive Manufacturing, Institute of Agricultural Facilities and Equipment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Wang
- Key Laboratory for Protected Agricultural Engineering in the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Biomass Composites and Addictive Manufacturing, Institute of Agricultural Facilities and Equipment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhichao Lou
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, Jiangsu, China
| | - He Han
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, Jiangsu, China
| | - Nina Yan
- Key Laboratory for Protected Agricultural Engineering in the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Biomass Composites and Addictive Manufacturing, Institute of Agricultural Facilities and Equipment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qingbao Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, International Joint Laboratory for Advanced Fiber and Low-dimension Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Key Laboratory for Protected Agricultural Engineering in the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Biomass Composites and Addictive Manufacturing, Institute of Agricultural Facilities and Equipment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, Jiangsu, China
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Larrinaga WB, Cotruvo JA, Worrell BT, Eaton SS, Eaton GR. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, Electronic Ground State, and Electron Spin Relaxation of Seven Lanthanide Ions Bound to Lanmodulin and the Bioinspired Chelator, 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO). Chemistry 2023; 29:e202303215. [PMID: 37802965 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of lanthanide(III) ions besides Gd3+ , bound to small-molecule and protein chelators, are uncharacterized. Here, the EPR properties of 7 lanthanide(III) ions bound to the natural lanthanide-binding protein, lanmodulin (LanM), and the synthetic small-molecule chelator, 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) ("HOPO"), were systematically investigated. Echo-detected pulsed EPR spectra reveal intense signals from ions for which the normal continuous-wave first-derivative spectra are negligibly different from zero. Spectra of Kramers lanthanide ions Ce3+ , Nd3+ , Sm3+ , Er3+ , and Yb3+ , and non-Kramers Tb3+ and Tm3+ , bound to LanM are more similar to the ions in dilute aqueous:ethanol solution than to those coordinated with HOPO. Lanmodulins from two bacteria, with distinct metal-binding sites, had similar spectra for Tb3+ but different spectra for Nd3+ . Spin echo dephasing rates (1/Tm ) are faster for lanthanides than for most transition metals and limited detection of echoes to temperatures below ~6 to 12 K. Dephasing rates were environment dependent and decreased in the order water:ethanol>LanM>HOPO, which is attributed to decreasing librational motion. These results demonstrate that the EPR spectra and relaxation times of lanthanide(III) ions are sensitive to coordination environment, motivating wider application of these methods for characterization of both small-molecule and biomolecule interactions with lanthanides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wyatt B Larrinaga
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
| | - Joseph A Cotruvo
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
| | - Brady T Worrell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, 80208, United States
| | - Sandra S Eaton
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, 80208, United States
| | - Gareth R Eaton
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, 80208, United States
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Jung H, Su Z, Inaba Y, West AC, Banta S. Genetic Modification of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans for Rare-Earth Element Recovery under Acidic Conditions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:19902-19911. [PMID: 37983372 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
As global demands for rare-earth elements (REEs) continue to grow, the biological recovery of REEs has been explored as a promising strategy, driven by potential economic and environmental benefits. It is known that calcium-binding domains, including helix-loop-helix EF hands and repeats-in-toxin (RTX) domains, can bind lanthanide ions due to their similar ionic radii and coordination preference to calcium. Recently, the lanmodulin protein from Methylorubrum extorquens was reported, which has evolved a high affinity for lanthanide ions over calcium. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a chemolithoautotrophic acidophile, which has been explored for use in bioleaching for metal recovery. In this report, A. ferrooxidans was engineered for the recombinant intracellular expression of lanmodulin. In addition, an RTX domain from the adenylate cyclase protein of Bordetella pertussis, which has previously been shown to bind Tb3+, was expressed periplasmically via fusion with the endogenous rusticyanin protein. The binding of lanthanides (Tb3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, and La3+) was improved by up to 4-fold for cells expressing lanmodulin and 13-fold for cells expressing the RTX domains in both pure and mixed metal solutions. Interestingly, the presence of lanthanides in the growth media enhanced protein expression, likely by influencing protein stability. Both engineered cell lines exhibited higher recoveries and selectivities for four tested lanthanides (Tb3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, and La3+) over non-REEs (Fe2+ and Co2+) in a synthetic magnet leachate, demonstrating the potential of these new strains for future REE reclamation and recycling applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejung Jung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Zihang Su
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Yuta Inaba
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Alan C West
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
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Hutchison JM, Hussein FB, Mayer BK. Evaluating Sustainable Development Pathways for Protein- and Peptide-Based Bioadsorbents for Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:16317-16326. [PMID: 37856833 PMCID: PMC10620995 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Recovering phosphate (P) from point sources such as wastewater effluent is a priority in order to alleviate the impacts of eutrophication and implement a circular economy for an increasingly limited resource. Bioadsorbents featuring P-binding proteins and peptides offer exquisite P specificity and sensitivity for achieving ultralow P concentrations, i.e., <100 μg P L-1, a discharge limit that has been implemented in at least one treatment facility in nine U.S. states. To prioritize research objectives for P recovery in wastewater treatment, we compared the financial and environmental sustainability of protein/peptide bioadsorbents to those of LayneRT anion exchange resin. The baseline scenario (reflecting lab-demonstrated performance at a full-scale implementation) had costs that were 3 orders of magnitude higher than those for typical wastewater treatment. However, scenarios exploring bioadsorbent improvements, including increasing the P-binding capacity per unit volume by using smaller P-selective peptides and nanoparticle base materials and implementing reuse, dramatically decreased median impacts to $1.06 m-3 and 0.001 kg CO2 equiv m-3; these values are in line with current wastewater treatment impacts and lower than the median LayneRT impacts of $4.04 m-3 and 0.19 kg CO2 equiv m-3. While the financial viability of capturing low P concentrations is a challenge, incorporating the externalities of environmental impacts may provide a feasible path forward to motivate ultralow P capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M. Hutchison
- Department
of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas, 1530 W 15th St, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Faten B. Hussein
- Department
of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, 1637 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, United States
| | - Brooke K. Mayer
- Department
of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, 1637 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, United States
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Zhang H, Gao Y. Polymeric Materials for Rare Earth Elements Recovery. Gels 2023; 9:775. [PMID: 37888349 PMCID: PMC10606271 DOI: 10.3390/gels9100775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) play indispensable roles in various advanced technologies, from electronics to renewable energy. However, the heavy global REEs supply and the environmental impact of traditional mining practices have spurred the search for sustainable REEs recovery methods. Polymeric materials have emerged as promising candidates due to their selective adsorption capabilities, versatility, scalability, and regenerability. This paper provides an extensive overview of polymeric materials for REEs recovery, including polymeric resins, polymer membranes, cross-linked polymer networks, and nanocomposite polymers. Each category is examined for its advantages, challenges, and notable developments. Furthermore, we highlight the potential of polymeric materials to contribute to eco-friendly and efficient REEs recovery, while acknowledging the need to address challenges such as selectivity, stability, and scalability. The research in this field actively seeks innovative solutions to reduce reliance on hazardous chemicals and minimize waste generation. As the demand for REEs continues to rise, the development of sustainable REEs recovery technologies remains a critical area of investigation, with the collaboration between researchers and industry experts driving progress in this evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongtao Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China;
| | - Yongfeng Gao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
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Kulasekara DN, Kajjam AB, Praneeth S, Dittrich TM, Allen MJ. Cryptands on a Solid Support for the Separation of Europium from Gadolinium. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:42037-42045. [PMID: 37623310 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c06975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
With the great demand for europium in green-energy technologies comes the need for innovative methods to isolate the elements. We introduce a solid-liquid extraction method using a 2.2.2-cryptand-modified solid support to separate europium from gadolinium using their differences in electrochemical potential. The method overcomes challenges associated with the separation of those two ions that have similar coordination chemistry in the +3 oxidation state. A competitive adsorption study in the cryptand system between EuII/EuIII and GdIII shows greater affinity for EuII relative to GdIII. After separation from GdIII, Eu was released by oxidizing EuII to EuIII with 99.3% purity. The purity of separated Eu is unaffected by pH between pH 3.0 and 5.5. Overall, we demonstrate that by modifying a solid support with 2.2.2-cryptand, divalent europium can be separated from trivalent gadolinium based on the differences of affinities of 2.2.2-cryptand for the two ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Nuwangi Kulasekara
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, 5101 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
| | - Aravind B Kajjam
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, 5101 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
| | - Sai Praneeth
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Wayne State University, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
| | - Timothy M Dittrich
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Wayne State University, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
| | - Matthew J Allen
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, 5101 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
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