Rare-earth elements have a variety of important uses such as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, phosphors in screens, and various other industrial uses. Rare earths are difficult to separate from each other due to their similar coordination chemistry and primary oxidation state +3. However, several rare-earths are able to be reduced to their divalent state in water. We are testing a hypothesis that if ligands for divalent lanthanides are covalently linked to solid supports, then the lanthanides will be able to be separated as a function of electrochemical potential. We will present progress toward testing this hypothesis with initial separations of EuII and GdIII. Initial separations will determine optimal conditions such as mixing time and loading concentration that are critical to separation. Improving methods of separation for these rare earths is expected to be impactful to current procedures.

Ligands on solid support for electrochemical separations of rare-earth elements

ACS Spring 2022

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