Design of a Magnetic Field-Controlled Chromatography Process for Efficient and Selective Fractionation of Rare Earth Phosphors from End-of-Life Fluorescent Lamps

Abstract

Rare earth-containing materials are essential for a wide range of modern technologies and have significant technological and economic importance. Therefore, the development of efficient separation and purification processes for these materials is crucial for environmental sustainability and resource conservation. In this study, we investigated the potential of magnetic field-controlled chromatography for the fractionation of different rare earth-containing phosphors from end-of-life fluorescent lamps. The results demonstrate that with the intrinsic magnetization of the phosphor particles and a careful choice of process parameters, we can control the separation outcome. An optimized gradient shape resulted in purities of up to 95.3% at recoveries of 93.6% (LaPO 4 :Ce 3+ ,Tb 3+ ). The aqueous eluent consumption was found to be quite modest at 4.1 L/g, and it contained only minimal quantities of nontoxic and biodegradable solvent. This study could have significant implications for the development of efficient and effective purification processes for rare earth-containing materials, which are primarily driven by economic concerns and environmental considerations. The possibility of scaling up the process by increasing the column size or transferring it to continuous processing methods could further enhance its practical applicability in industry.