Near-Real-Time Material Tracking: Combining Vis-NIR Spectroscopy with Flow Sensing for Accurate Nd(III)...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate monitoring of strategic materials like neodymium (Nd) is crucial for production processes.
• Traditional methods for tracking Nd mass can be time-consuming and lack real-time capabilities.
• Advanced sensor technologies are needed to improve efficiency and safety in chemical separations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a near-real-time system for tracking neodymium mass in effluent streams.
• To integrate visible-near-infrared (vis-NIR) absorption spectroscopy with a flow sensor for continuous monitoring.
• To establish a robust method for calculating instantaneous and total Nd mass processed.

Main Methods:

• A fiber-optic vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy system was coupled with an in-line flow sensor.
• A partial least-squares regression (PLSR) model was trained using vis-NIR spectra of Nd-(III) in nitric acid.
• Data streams were synchronized to combine volumetric flow rate with predicted Nd molarities for mass calculation.

Main Results:

• The integrated system achieved near-real-time tracking of Nd mass.
• The PLSR model accurately predicted Nd-(III) molarities based on vis-NIR spectra.
• Synchronized data allowed for precise calculation of instantaneous and cumulative Nd mass.

Conclusions:

• The developed system provides critical technical infrastructure for enhanced monitoring in chemical separations.
• This methodology supports improved process control and the production of strategic materials and isotopes.
• The integration of spectroscopy and flow sensing offers a novel approach for real-time elemental mass tracking.