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Xia D, Lee C, Charpentier NM, Deng Y, Yan Q, Gabriel JP. Drivers and Pathways for the Recovery of Critical Metals from Waste-Printed Circuit Boards. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2309635. [PMID: 38837685 PMCID: PMC11321694 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The ever-increasing importance of critical metals (CMs) in modern society underscores their resource security and circularity. Waste-printed circuit boards (WPCBs) are particularly attractive reservoirs of CMs due to their gamut CM embedding and ubiquitous presence. However, the recovery of most CMs is out of reach from current metal-centric recycling industries, resulting in a flood loss of refined CMs. Here, 41 types of such spent CMs are identified. To deliver a higher level of CM sustainability, this work provides an insightful overview of paradigm-shifting pathways for CM recovery from WPCBs that have been developed in recent years. As a crucial starting entropy-decreasing step, various strategies of metal enrichment are compared, and the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and hyperspectral sensing is highlighted. Then, tailored metal recycling schemes are presented for the platinum group, rare earth, and refractory metals, with emphasis on greener metallurgical methods contributing to transforming CMs into marketable products. In addition, due to the vital nexus of CMs between the environment and energy sectors, the upcycling of CMs into electro-/photo-chemical catalysts for green fuel synthesis is proposed to extend the recycling chain. Finally, the challenges and outlook on this all-round upgrading of WPCB recycling are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Xia
- SCARCE LaboratoryEnergy Research Institute @ NTUNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore639798Singapore
| | - Carmen Lee
- SCARCE LaboratoryEnergy Research Institute @ NTUNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore639798Singapore
- School of Material Science and EngineeringNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore639798Singapore
| | - Nicolas M. Charpentier
- SCARCE LaboratoryEnergy Research Institute @ NTUNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore639798Singapore
- Université Paris‐SaclayCEACNRSNIMBELICSENGif‐sur‐Yvette91191France
| | - Yuemin Deng
- Université Paris‐SaclayCEACNRSNIMBELICSENGif‐sur‐Yvette91191France
- Ecologic France15 Avenue du CentreGuyancour78280France
| | - Qingyu Yan
- SCARCE LaboratoryEnergy Research Institute @ NTUNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore639798Singapore
- School of Material Science and EngineeringNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore639798Singapore
| | - Jean‐Christophe P. Gabriel
- SCARCE LaboratoryEnergy Research Institute @ NTUNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore639798Singapore
- Université Paris‐SaclayCEACNRSNIMBELICSENGif‐sur‐Yvette91191France
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Furigay MH, Chaudhuri S, Li C, Zhou J, Pandey P, Higgins RF, Gupta H, Carroll PJ, Gau MR, Anna JM, Schatz GC, Schelter EJ. Observing Similarities and Differences in the Properties of Isostructural Niobium(V)/Tantalum(V) Coordination Compounds with Strong Pi-Donor Ligands. Inorg Chem 2023; 62:19238-19247. [PMID: 37956394 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c02514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
While niobium and tantalum are found together in their mineral ores, their respective applications in technology require chemical separation. Nb/Ta separations are challenging due to the similar reactivities displayed by these metals in the solution phase. Coordination complexes of these metals have been studied in the contexts of catalysis, small-molecule activation, and functional group insertion reactivity; relatively few studies exist directly comparing the properties of isostructural Nb/Ta complexes. Such comparisons advance the development of Nb/Ta separation chemistry through the potential for differential reactivity. Here, we explore fundamental physicochemical properties in extensively characterized Nb/Ta coordination complexes [Na(DME)3][MClamp], (Clamp6- = tris-(2-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-2'-oxyphenyl)amidophenyl)amine; M = Nb, Ta) to advance the understanding of the different electronic, optical, and excited-state properties that these metals exhibit in pi-loaded coordination complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell H Furigay
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Subhajyoti Chaudhuri
- Department of Chemistry and Graduate Program in Applied Physics, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Chenshuai Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34 Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Jiawang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34 Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Pragati Pandey
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Robert F Higgins
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Himanshu Gupta
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Patrick J Carroll
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34 Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Michael R Gau
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34 Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Jessica M Anna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34 Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - George C Schatz
- Department of Chemistry and Graduate Program in Applied Physics, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Eric J Schelter
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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Neururer F, Huter K, Seidl M, Hohloch S. Reactivity and Structure of a Bis-phenolate Niobium NHC Complex. ACS ORGANIC & INORGANIC AU 2022; 3:59-71. [PMID: 36748079 PMCID: PMC9896488 DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.2c00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We report the facile synthesis of a rare niobium(V) imido NHC complex with a dianionic OCO-pincer benzimidazolylidene ligand (L 1 ) with the general formula [NbL 1 (N t Bu)PyCl] 1-Py. We achieved this by in situ deprotonation of the corresponding azolium salt [H 3 L 1 ][Cl] and subsequent reaction with [Nb(N t Bu)Py 2 Cl 3 ]. The pyridine ligand in 1-Py can be removed by the addition of B(C6F5)3 as a strong Lewis acid leading to the formation of the pyridine-free complex 1. In contrast to similar vanadium(V) complexes, complex 1-Py was found to be a good precursor for various salt metathesis reactions, yielding a series of chalcogenido and pnictogenido complexes with the general formula [ NbL 1 (N t Bu)Py(EMes)] (E = O (2), S (3), NH (4), and PH (5)). Furthermore, complex 1-Py can be converted to alkyl complex (6) with 1 equiv of neosilyl lithium as a transmetallation agent. Addition of a second equivalent yields a new trianionic supporting ligand on the niobium center (7) in which the benzimidazolylidene ligand is alkylated at the former carbene carbon atom. The latter is an interesting chemically "noninnocent" feature of the benzimidazolylidene ligand potentially useful in catalysis and atom transfer reactions. Addition of mesityl lithium to 1-Py gives the pyridine-free aryl complex 8, which is stable toward "overarylation" by an additional equivalent of mesityl lithium. Electrochemical investigation revealed that complexes 1-Py and 1 are inert toward reduction in dichloromethane but show two irreversible reduction processes in tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. However, using standard reduction agents, e.g., KC8, K-mirror, and Na/Napht, no reduced products could be isolated. All complexes have been thoroughly studied by various techniques, including 1H-, 13C{1H}-, and 1H-15N HMBC NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis.
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Hand AT, Lamb AC, Richmond MG, Wang X, Steren CA, Xue ZL. Syntheses of Group 5 Amide Amidinates and Their Reactions with Water: Different Reactivities of Nb(V) and Ta(V) Complexes. Inorg Chem 2022; 61:19075-19087. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c02365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam T. Hand
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Adam C. Lamb
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Michael G. Richmond
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 76203, United States
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Carlos A. Steren
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Zi-Ling Xue
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
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Solvent-Impregnated Sorbents for Tantalum from Niobium Separation Using a Fixed-Bed Column. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15041513. [PMID: 35208050 PMCID: PMC8875405 DOI: 10.3390/ma15041513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Reactor-grade niobium steel is used as a construction material for nuclear reactors. In this case, the presence of tantalum, which is characterized by a 20 times higher active cross section for capturing thermal neutrons than the cross section of niobium (181Ta: 21.3 barn), cannot exceed 100 ppm. Analytical methods for quality and new separation method development control need very pure niobium matrices—niobium compounds with a low tantalum content, which are crucial for preparing matrix reference solutions or certified reference materials (CRMs). Therefore, in this paper, a new, efficient method for separating trace amounts of Ta(V) from Nb(V) using extraction chromatography with the use of sorbents impregnated with methyl isobutyl ketone MIBK solvent is proposed. Various types of MIBK-impregnated sorbents were used (AG® 1-X8 Anion Exchange Resin, AMBERLITE™ IRC120 Na Ion Exchange Resin, SERVACEL® Cellulose Anion Exchangers DEAE 52, active carbons of various grain size, carbonized blackcurrant pomace, carbonized chokeberry pomace, bentonite, and polyurethane foam in lumps). The highest tantalum removal efficiency was determined using active coal-based materials (>97%). The separation effectivity of tantalum from niobium was also determined in dynamic studies using a fixed-bed column with MIBK-impregnated active carbon. Solutions of various Nb:Ta weight ratios (1:1, 100:1, 1000:1) were used. The most impressive result was obtaining 70 mL of high purity niobium solution of tantalum content 0.027 ppm (in relation to Nb) with 88.4% yield of niobium from a solution of Nb:Ta, weight ratio 1000:1 (purge factor equaled 35,000). It proves the presented system to be applicable for preparation of pure niobium compounds with very low contents of tantalum.
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Weberg AB, Chaudhuri S, Cheisson T, Uruburo C, Lapsheva E, Pandey P, Gau MR, Carroll PJ, Schatz GC, Schelter EJ. Tantalum, easy as Pi: understanding differences in metal–imido bonding towards improving Ta/Nb separations. Chem Sci 2022; 13:6796-6805. [PMID: 35774165 PMCID: PMC9200122 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc01926d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The separation and purification of niobium and tantalum, which co-occur in natural sources, is difficult due to their similar physical and chemical properties. The current industrial method for separating Ta/Nb mixtures uses an energy-intensive process with caustic and toxic conditions. It is of interest to develop alternative, fundamental methodologies for the purification of these technologically important metals that improve upon their environmental impact. Herein, we introduce new Ta/Nb imido compounds: M(tBuN)(TriNOx) (1-M) bound by the TriNOx3− ligand and demonstrate a fundamental, proof-of-concept Ta/Nb separation based on differences in the imido reactivities. Despite the nearly identical structures of 1-M, density functional theory (DFT)-computed electronic structures of 1-M indicate enhanced basic character of the imido group in 1-Ta as compared to 1-Nb. Accordingly, the rate of CO2 insertion into the M
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Nimido bond of 1-Ta to form a carbamate complex (2-Ta) was selective compared to the analogous, unobserved reaction with 1-Nb. Differences in solubility between the imido and carbamate complexes allowed for separation of the carbamate complex, and led to an efficient Ta/Nb separation (STa/Nb = 404 ± 150) dependent on the kinetic differences in nucleophilicities between the imido moieties in 1-Ta and 1-Nb. A selective separation of the critical metals tantalum and niobium was accomplished from π-bonding-based reactivity differences of imido complexes. New insights into Ta/Nb separations were gained through detailed kinetic and computational studies.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander B. Weberg
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Subhajyoti Chaudhuri
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Thibault Cheisson
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Christian Uruburo
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Ekaterina Lapsheva
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Pragati Pandey
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Michael R. Gau
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Patrick J. Carroll
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - George C. Schatz
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Eric J. Schelter
- P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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