Multifunctional REE Selective Hybrid Membranes Based on Ion-Imprinted Polymers and Modified Multiwalled Carbon...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Separation Science

Background:

• Developing advanced materials for selective separation of rare earth elements (REEs) is crucial for sustainable resource management.
• Existing methods for REE recovery often face challenges with efficiency, selectivity, and material stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and characterize novel multifunctional hybrid membranes for selective REE recovery.
• To investigate the influence of modified chitosan, functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and rare earth element ion-imprinted polymers (REEIIPs) on membrane properties.

Main Methods:

• Hybrid membranes were synthesized using a casting method in an external magnetic field.
• Material characterization included TGA, SEM, VSM, XRD, X-ray micro-tomography, and FTIR.
• Mechanical, rheological, and separation performance (rejection ratio) were evaluated.

Main Results:

• The hybrid membranes exhibited tunable weak ferromagnetic properties, with saturation magnetization increasing with MWCNT content.
• Thermooxidative stability improved significantly, with some membranes stable up to 730 °C.
• Mechanical and rheological properties were enhanced, and high rejection ratios for Nd (94.35%), Pr (92.12%), and Gd (90.11%) were achieved.

Conclusions:

• The designed hybrid membranes offer a promising platform for efficient and selective recovery of REEs like Nd, Pr, and Gd.
• The synergistic combination of components resulted in improved material stability, magnetic tunability, and separation performance.
• These membranes hold significant potential for applications in REE recovery from complex matrices such as coal fly ash extracts.