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Title: Lipophilic diglycolamide compounds for extraction of rare earth metals from aqueous solutions

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1824088

A method for extracting rare earth metals (e.g., lanthanides and/or actinides) from aqueous solution, the method comprising: (i) acidifying an aqueous solution containing said rare earth metals with sulfuric acid to result in an acidified aqueous solution containing 1-12 M concentration of sulfuric acid; and (ii) contacting the acidified aqueous solution with an aqueous-insoluble hydrophobic solution comprising a rare earth extractant molecule dissolved in an aqueous-insoluble hydrophobic solvent to result in extraction of one or more of the rare earth metals into the aqueous hydrophobic solution, wherein the rare earth extractant molecule has the following structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from hydrocarbon groups containing 1-20 carbon atoms, provided that the total carbon atoms in R1, R2, R3, and R4 is at least 12; and R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups containing 1-3 carbon atoms.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
Assignee:
UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Number(s):
11,040,296
Application Number:
16/407,710
OSTI ID:
1824088
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 05/09/2019
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (6)

Multivalent metal ion extraction using diglycolamide-coated particles patent-application April 2004
Separation of zirconium and uranium patent April 1983
Solvent Extraction of Metal Ions Using N-Substituted Hydroxamic Acids patent June 1974
Process for Separating Americum from Other Metallic Elements Present in an Acidic Aqueous Or Organic Phase and Applications Thereof patent-application October 2013
Methods for Separating Medical Isotopes Using Ionic Liquids patent-application March 2014
Membrane Assisted Solvent Extraction for Rare Earth Element Recovery patent-application December 2016

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