Fluorescence Signatures of Rare Earth Metals during Precipitation in Various Conditions

Fluorescence spectroscopy is a widely used sensor methodology that analyzes light emitted from a compound or element as it decays from an excited state. This technique is very sensitive and selective, which is ideal to characterize analytes at lower concentrations. Key example targets of significant industry and research interest include rare earth elements (REEs) such as dysprosium (Dy) and europium (Eu). These are widely used in advanced technologies including semiconductors, electric vehicle motors, lasers, and permanent magnets. Identifying new sources and responsible reutilization of REEs is essential, and new approaches to extract and recycle REEs could be notably enhanced through the integration of online sensors. The sensors can support faster process design, informed scale-up, and cost-effective deployment. This study covers the initial exploration of applying fluorescence-based online monitoring to REEs within a precipitation process. This study demonstrates the successful scale-up of a fluorescence-based sensing approach, from stationary cuvettes and small-volume microfluidic devices to continuous flow systems operating at the bench scale (10-25 mL). This work also provides initial insight into the challenges of signal's effects and utility within a turbid environment or when solution interfaces become more complex. Using a modular design for monitoring flowing solutions in a flow tube, fluorescence can be characterized for a variety of analytical targets. In this study, detection performance parameters between the cuvette and flow tube system were compared. Additionally, the response of Dy during precipitation by sodium bicarbonate in the two measurement designs was explored. This letter represents a starting point to bridge the gap between traditional fluorescence sensor measurements in a cuvette to future developments that explore the ability to integrate fluorescence sensors into extraction and separation processes at industrially relevant scales and within complex chemical environments.