Cyclic Peptide Mineralization for Rare Earth Ion Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for recovering rare earth ions, such as those using solvent extraction and metal reducing microorganisms, are costly and inefficient, particularly in separating specific rare earth ions from mixtures with other metal ions.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a mineralization agent, specifically a peptide with a cyclic structure, is used to selectively mineralize and separate rare earth ions by forming a cyclic structure that binds specifically to rare earth ions, allowing for their separation and recovery as rare earth minerals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If solvent extraction or metal reducing microorganisms are used to recover rare earth ions, then rare earth ions can be recovered, but the recovery cost increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a peptide as an intermediary substance that mediates between rare earth ions and the separation system. The peptide specifically binds to target rare earth ions through its amino acid sequence, forming a peptide-rare earth ion complex that can be selectively separated from the mixture, thereby improving both efficiency and reducing costs compared to conventional solvent extraction or microorganism-based methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the specific amino acid sequence parameters of the peptide (particularly the presence of specific amino acids at specific positions) to change the binding affinity and selectivity parameters toward different rare earth ions. By optimizing these sequence parameters, the system achieves high-selectivity binding that improves recovery efficiency while reducing the need for expensive multi-step processes
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional peptide binding methods are used to capture rare earth ions, then rare earth ions can be captured, but selective separation of specific rare earth ions from mixtures remains difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing specific regions within the peptide sequence (local amino acid positions) to have specialized binding properties. The peptide structure contains specific local motifs (such as certain amino acid residues at defined positions) that create localized binding sites with high affinity and selectivity for particular rare earth ions, enabling precise separation without complex processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter composition of the binding agent by using a specifically designed peptide sequence with controlled amino acid composition. This parameter optimization allows the peptide to exhibit differential binding constants for different rare earth ions, achieving high separation selectivity through simple contact rather than complex multi-stage separation processes
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively separates and recovers rare earth ions by exploiting the unique mineralization tendencies of the peptide, enabling the selective capture and recovery of specific rare earth ions from mixtures, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a rare earth ion may be mineralized to obtain a rare earth mineral (a hydroxide, etc.) which can then be separated and recovered as a precipitate
Implementation Method 2
the mineralization agent is capable of forming a cyclic structure when the mineralization agent is proximally positioned to the rare earth ion or has a cyclic structure
Data Source
AI summary
A method for identifying and separating a rare earth ion. The method includes bringing one or more rare earth ions into contact with a mineralization agent capable of mineralizing the rare earth ions, wherein the one or more rare earth ions are separated as rare earth minerals, based on a mineralization tendency of the mineralization agent with respect to a rare earth ion series.