Diglycolamic Acid Polymer Adsorbent for Rare Earth Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for rare earth element separation and recovery, such as solvent extraction and column extraction, face economic challenges with large-scale equipment needs and susceptibility to suspended substances, respectively.
Innovation Solution
An adsorption separation material with diglycolamic-acid-type ligands bonded to a polymer base material via graft polymerization, allowing for selective adsorption and recovery of rare earth elements without requiring large-scale equipment and overcoming clogging issues from suspended substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If solvent extraction method is used, then extraction capacity is improved, but large-scale equipment and large amount of organic solvent are necessary causing economic problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical solvent extraction system with a chemical adsorption system. The diglycolamic acid-functionalized polymer adsorbent directly binds rare earth elements from aqueous solutions through chemical coordination, eliminating the need for large-scale liquid-liquid extraction equipment and organic solvents while maintaining high extraction capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a porous polymer adsorbent with diglycolamic acid functional groups that provide high surface area and numerous active sites for rare earth element binding. The porous structure enables efficient mass transfer and high adsorption capacity without requiring large-scale equipment
2Ease of operation
If column extraction method using particulate adsorbent is used, then apparatus is simple and operability is easy, but adsorption capacity is small and susceptible to suspended substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the adsorbent by introducing diglycolamic acid functional groups with specific coordination chemistry properties. This functionalization dramatically increases the adsorption capacity while maintaining the simplicity of column operation, as the enhanced chemical affinity allows for smaller, more efficient columns
3Device complexity
If column extraction method using particulate adsorbent is used, then apparatus is simple and operability is easy, but adsorption capacity is small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material combining a polymer base material with diglycolamic acid functional groups. This composite structure integrates the mechanical stability and simplicity of particulate adsorbents with the high adsorption capacity of chemically functionalized materials, achieving both apparatus simplicity and high adsorption capacity
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
The material enables efficient and high-capacity adsorption and recovery of rare earth elements, reducing processing costs and improving efficiency compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
at least one diglycolamic-acid-type ligand represented by the general formula (2) shown below is bonded to a polymer base material by graft polymerization
Implementation Method 2
An adsorption separation material for selectively recovering a rare earth element dissolved in an aqueous solution
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention aims to provide an adsorption separation material which can selectively adsorb rare earth elements, is simple in apparatus and operation, and is excellent in adsorption and recovery ability. The adsorption separation material of the present invention is an adsorption separation material for selectively recovering a rare earth element dissolved in an aqueous solution, in which at least one diglycolamic-acid-type ligand represented by the following general formula (2) is bonded to a polymer base material by graft polymerization. (in the formula (2), R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having a carbon number of from 1 to 3, an alkylene group having a carbon number of from 1 to 3, an acyl group having a carbon number of from 1 to 2, or an aldehyde group, and * represents a bond.)