Magnetic nanohydrometallurgy: A promising nanotechnological approach for metal production and recovery using functionalized superparamagnetic nanoparticles

Magnetophoresis of Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles Applied to the Extraction of Lanthanide Ions in the Presence of Magnetic Field

“…Magnetic nanohydrometallurgy [8][9][10] deals with the capture of metal ions by superparamagnetic nanoparticles and their magnetophoretic separation for processing the elements. The application of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4 ) coated with the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic (DTPA) complexing agent , for the extraction and separation of lanthanide ions (Ln = La 3+ and Nd 3+ ) , has already been successfully accomplished in our laboratory [22].…”

“…Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MagNP) are being extensively explored in nanotechnology, and one of the recent applications deals with magnetic separations at the nanoscale (magnetophoresis) [1][2][3][4][5] and elemental processing in the mineral area [6,7] (magnetic nanohydrometallurgy) [8][9][10]. The understanding of such processes can lead to important technological advances in metal ion extraction, separation and recovery, as well as in electrowinning processes, including environmental remediation involving the capture and removal of heavy metal contaminants from industrial effluents [11,12].…”

Green Processing of Strategic Elements Based on Magnetic Nanohydrometallurgy

“…Their good performance has also stimulated the teaching of green strategies and sustainability concepts in chemical education. 72 Copper has been initially chosen for demonstrating the NHM process in the laboratory, 28 since it is already produced by conventional hydrometallurgy processes, and is a strategic element in the economy, because of its involvement in construction, energy and agriculture, as well as in electric, electronic and domestic products. The element can be processed with superparamagnetic nanoparticles functionalized with diethylenediaminepropyltriethoxysilane (MagNP@EAPS) as complexing agents, as represented by:…”

“…In this regard, this review article will focus on a new, emerging technology called magnetic nanohydrometallurgy, or simply NHM. 28 The process was developed in our laboratory 29 and is based on the use of superparamagnetic nanoparticles functionalized with complexing agents, for extracting, concentrating and separating the metal elements, under the influence of applied magnetic field, and in some cases, to perform the electrowinning process after magnetically confining the metal ions onto the appropriate cathode surface.…”

“…28,[30][31][32][33] As an extension, we here report on our recent advances, extending the NHM technology to a challenging area of the rare earth (RE) elements, particularly the lanthanides. This group of elements is normally found in the trivalent state, and is very important in modern technology because of their applications in catalysis, 34 metallurgy, ceramics, medicine, 35-38 electronics and energy.…”