Selective Lanthanide Halide Complex Synthesis via Oxygen Scavenger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for synthesizing anhydrous lanthanide starting materials are challenging, often requiring harsh conditions and lack specificity between light and heavy rare earths, necessitating additional separation steps, which increases time, complexity, and cost, and there is a need for efficient methods to isolate lanthanide oxides from actinide and non-lanthanide rare earth element oxides.
Innovation Solution
A method involving combining lanthanide metal oxides with an oxygen scavenger and a catalyst in a donor solvent to form anhydrous lanthanide halide complexes, allowing for the selective separation of light lanthanide oxides from heavy lanthanide, actinide, and non-lanthanide rare earth element oxides, using mild conditions and avoiding the use of water as a reagent or byproduct.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If current methods for synthesizing anhydrous lanthanide starting materials are used, then the synthesis can be performed, but harsh conditions are required and additional separation steps are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the synthesis reaction and separation process into a single integrated operation. The oxygen scavenger system selectively reacts with light lanthanide oxides to form water-soluble complexes, while heavy lanthanide oxides remain insoluble and can be separated by simple filtration, eliminating the need for multiple separation steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the reaction system by introducing an oxygen scavenger that selectively reacts with light lanthanide oxides. This parameter change creates a solubility difference between light and heavy lanthanide complexes, enabling easy separation through filtration or decantation
2Productivity
If current synthesis methods are used, then lanthanide materials can be produced, but the process lacks specificity between light and heavy rare earths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the oxygen scavenger selectively reactive only with light lanthanide oxides. The scavenger's chemical properties are tailored to have high affinity for light lanthanides (La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu) while being unreactive toward heavy lanthanides, actinides, and non-lanthanide rare earths, achieving both productivity and precision
3Manufacturing precision
If additional separation steps are added to improve separation, then purity increases, but time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the separation function from the traditional multi-step process and embeds it directly into the synthesis reaction. The oxygen scavenger selectively extracts oxygen from light lanthanide oxides, forming soluble complexes that separate automatically from insoluble heavy lanthanide oxides, achieving high purity in a single step
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 enables the production of anhydrous lanthanide halide complexes under mild conditions, facilitating efficient separation and reducing the need for further separation steps, thus improving the accessibility and cost-effectiveness of lanthanide materials, particularly useful for industrial applications and recycling of rare earth elements.
Implementation Method 1
combining a lanthanide metal oxide, an oxygen scavenger, and a catalyst in a donor solvent to provide a reaction mixture
Implementation Method 2
making anhydrous lanthanide halide complexes
Implementation Method 3
combining a lanthanide metal oxide, an oxygen scavenger, and a catalyst in a donor solvent to provide a reaction mixture
Implementation Method 4
combining a lanthanide metal oxide, an oxygen scavenger, and a catalyst in a donor solvent to provide a reaction mixture
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to method embodiments for making anhydrous lanthanide halide complexes. At least some embodiments comprise making a lanthanide halide complex by reacting a lanthanide metal oxide with an oxygen scavenger and catalyst in the presence of a donor solvent. The method is selective toward light lanthanide metal oxides and thus further provides a method for separating light lanthanide metal oxides from heavy lanthanide metal oxides, actinide oxides, and non-lanthanide rare earth element oxides.