Contact

Dr. Katja Schmeide

k.schmeideAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 2436
+49 351 260 2513

SE-FLECX: Selective liquid-liquid extraction of lanthanides and actinides by pre-organized calixarenes


Financed by:
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (033R132A)
Funding period:
2015/05/01 – 2018/10/31
 
Cooperation Partners:
Helmholtz-Institut Freiberg für Ressourcentechnologie
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institut für Ressourcenökologie
Universität Leipzig
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
BASF SE, Ludwigshafen
CMI UVK GmbH, Montabaur
 
People:
Katja Schmeide (project leader), Alexander Mansel
Students:
Anne Bauer

Summary

The production of rare earth elements from ores with complex mineralogy requires the initial separation of uranium and thorium as undesired constituents of rare earth ores prior to application of subsequent solvent extraction processes to selectively separate rare earth elements. Thus, the objective of the project is the development of alternative extractants on the basis of calix[n]arenes to improve the separation technology for lanthanides and actinides. Calix[n]arenes are suitable for such complex separation problems because their complexation properties and solubility can be tailored by varying size and functionality of the organic container molecules.

SE-FLECX

Within the joint project, the responsibilities of the various project partners (see above) are divided in the optimization of leaching technologies for the provision of leach solutions of representative rare earth containing ores, the development and synthesis of calix[n]arene based extracting agents for the selective separation of lanthanides and actinides, the performance of complexation and liquid-liquid extraction studies as well as upscaling of these processes. These results form the basis for a techno-economic feasibility analysis.

The main focus of the Institute of Resource Ecology is on the study of the complexation of U(VI) and Th(IV) by the newly developed calix[n]arenes by means of luminescence and absorption spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, single crystal X-ray diffraction and density functional theory. Liquid-liquid extraction is applied to study the selective separation of U(VI) and Th(IV) from aqueous rare earths concentrates.

SEFLECX Pic 2 ©Copyright: Bauer, Anne

Bauer, A., Jäschke, A., Schöne, S., Barthen, R., März, J., Schmeide, K., Patzschke, M., Kersting, B., Fahmy, K., Oertel, J., Brendler, V., Stumpf, T., ChemistryOpen 7, 467-474 (2018).

Foto: Anne Bauer

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SEFLECX Pic 1 ©Copyright: Dr. Jäschke, Astrid

Bauer, A., Jäschke, A., Shams Aldin Azzam, S., Glasneck, F., Ullmann, S., Kersting, B., Brendler, V., Schmeide, K., Stumpf, T., Sep. Purif. Technol. 213, 246-254 (2019).

Foto: Anne Bauer

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The project "SE-FLECX" is part of the funding priority "r4 – Innovative Technologien für Ressourceneffizienz – Forschung zur Bereitstellung wirtschaftsstrategischer Rohstoffe" in the framework program "Forschung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (FONA)".

 

Publications

Journal papers

  • Mansel, A., Franke, K.: Production of no-carrier-added 89Zr at an 18 MeV cyclotron, its purification and use in investigations in solvent extraction. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 328, 419-423 (2021).
  • Bauer, A., Jäschke, A., Shams Aldin Azzam, S., Glasneck, F., Ullmann, S., Kersting, B., Brendler, V., Schmeide, K., Stumpf, T.: Multidentate extracting agents based on calix[4]arene scaffold – UVI/EuIII separation studies. Sep. Purif. Technol. 213, 246-254 (2019).
  • Bauer, A., Jäschke, A., Schöne, S., Barthen, R., März, J., Schmeide, K., Patzschke, M., Kersting, B., Fahmy, K., Oertel, J., Brendler, V., Stumpf, T.: Uranium(VI) complexes with a calix[4]arene-based 8-hydroxyquinoline ligand: Thermodynamic and structural characterization based on calorimetry, spectroscopy, and liquid-liquid extraction. ChemistryOpen 7, 467-474 (2018).
  • Jäschke, A., Kischel, M., Mansel, A., Kersting, B.: Hydroxyquinoline-Calix[4]arene-Conjugates as Ligands for Polynuclear Lanthanide Complexes: Preparation, Characterization, and Properties of a Dinuclear Eu(III) complex. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 894-901 (2017).
  • Mansel, A., Franke, K.: Production of no-carrier-added 135La at an 18 MeV cyclotron and its purification for investigations at a concentration range down to 10−15 mol/L. Radiochim. Acta 103, 759-763 (2015).

Talks

  • Balinski, A., Bauer, A., Schmeide, K., Mansel, A., Jäschke, A., Glasneck, F., Kersting, B., Krause, J., Atanasova, P., Scharf, C.: "SE-FLECX-Project: Development of new extractants for rare earths." ISEC 2017 – The 21st International Solvent Extraction Conference, 05.-09.11.2017, Miyazaki, Japan.
  • Mansel, A., Franke, K.: "Production and purification of no-carrier-added 89Zr at the Leipzig cyclotron for extraction studies with a calix[4]arene." 5th International Nuclear Chemistry Congress - INCC, 27.08.-02.09.2017, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Posters

  • Bauer, A., März, J., Barthen, R., Jäschke, A., Glasneck, F., Schmeide, K., Brendler, V., Kersting, B., Stumpf, T.: "Structural clarification of a tert-butyl-calix[4]arene-based 8-hydroxyquinoline complex with uranium(VI) in non-aqueous solution." GDCh-Wissenschaftsforum Chemie 2017, Jahrestagung Fachgruppe Nuklearchemie, 10.-14.09.2017, Berlin, Deutschland.
  • Mansel, A., Franke, K.: "Produktion und Reinigung von n.c.a. 89Zr am Leipziger Zyklotron für Extraktionsstudien mit Calix[4]arenen." GDCh-Wissenschaftsforum Chemie 2017, Jahrestagung Fachgruppe Nuklearchemie, 10.-14.09.2017, Berlin, Deutschland.
  • Bauer, A., März, J., Barthen, R., Jäschke, A., Glasneck, F., Schmeide, K., Brendler, V., Kersting, B., Stumpf, T.: "Structural clarification of a tert-butyl-calix[4]arene-based 8-hydroxyquinoline complex with uranium(VI) in non-aqueous solution." ANAKON 2017, 03.-06.04.2017, Tübingen, Deutschland.
  • Bauer, A., Schmeide, K., März, J., Jäschke, A., Glasneck, F., Kersting, B.: "Complexation studies of modified calix[4]arenes with uranium in non-aqueous solution." NRC 9 – 9th International Conference on Nuclear and Radiochemistry, 29.08.-02.09.2016, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Mansel, A., Franke, K.: "Production and purification of no-carrier-added 139Ce at the Leipzig cyclotron CYCLONE® 18/9." NRC 9 – 9th International Conference on Nuclear and Radiochemistry, 29.08.-02.09.2016, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Mansel, A., Franke, K.: "Herstellung und Reinigung von n.c.a. 88Y am Leipziger Zyklotron Cyclone® 18/9." GDCh Jahrestagung 2015, Fachgruppe Nuklearchemie, 30.08.-02.09.2015, Dresden, Deutschland.