Selective separation of cerium from lanthanum by in situ selective electrochemical oxidation and extraction in a continuous microfluidic cell

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Rare earth elements (REEs) are crucial for numerous advanced industrial applications, yet their separation still presents significant challenges, necessitating innovative approaches. This study explores a novel method for the separation and purification of mixtures of lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) through in situ electrochemical oxidation combined with solvent extraction in a continuous microfluidic system. Specifically, the selective oxidation of Ce3+ to Ce4+ and its simultaneous extraction is demonstrated in a microfluidic cell. This method enables highly efficient La/Ce separation in a single extraction step. The microfluidic system was fabricated using additive manufacturing technology, and various process parameters were systematically investigated, including channel size, flow velocity, extraction agent type and concentration, feed concentration, and current density for electrolysis. Employing di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) in n-octane, cerium extraction rates exceeded 85% in a single step, with no detectable transfer of La3+ to the organic phase. This result underscores the effectiveness of the method in achieving a high degree of separation for these elements.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number117001
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Volume13
Issue number3
Early online date11 May 2025
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0001-7323-7816/work/184442107
Mendeley 3cefadd9-df89-30cf-b2ab-911ecf7a23b3
Scopus 105006877323

Keywords

Keywords

  • Additive manufacturing, Microfluidic cell, Rare earth elements, Solvent extraction, in situ electrolysis