Research & Reviews: Journal of Material Sciences
MenuISSN:2321-6212
ISSN:2321-6212
Liubov Lukina
KU Leuven, Belgium
ScientificTracks Abstracts: Res. Rev. J Mat. Sci
Rare earth metals are critical elements for many high-tech applications, e.g. electric vehicles, wind power generators and electronics. Due to the scarcity of rare earth metal supplies in Europe, it is clear that new efficient, environmentally friendly and cheap methods for separating rare earth metals from electronic and mining waste are needed. Currently used solvent extraction process is time-consuming and not efficient. In this context, magnetic separation of rare earth ions looks promising. Magnetic separation is a well-established method used in ore processing, food industry, biomedical diagnostic etc. The method of magnetic separation is based on the fact that REM have different magnetic susceptibilities: some of the rare earth ions are strongly paramagnetic (Dy3+, Ho3+), which means that they move towards the magnet; the other rare earth ions are diamagnetic (Sc3+, Y3+, Lu3+), hence they will move away from the magnet. Particles, cells and molecules easily undergo separation in a magnetic field. However, magnetic separation of ions has not been reported since 1950s. In this work, magnetomigration of rare earth ions was investigated using a separation device. The separation device featured a 2.5 ml3 cell where rare earth solution was enclosed and circulated due to natural convection. Magnetic field was applied to the device using a magnetic yoke setup. Enrichment of paramagnetic Dy3+ ions in the paramagnetic fraction was achieved. Simulation of the experimental system in Comsol 5.2 is allowed to verify the observed fluid flow and temperature patterns. Magnetomigration is the first step to magnetic separation of rare earth ions. Recent Publications 1. Yang X et al. (2014) Magnetic separation of paramagnetic ions from initially homogeneous solutions. IEEE Transactions on Magnetics 50:1–4. 2. Pulko B et al. (2014) Magnetic separation of Dy (III) ions from homogeneous aqueous solutions. Applied Physics Letters 105(23):232407. 3. Ji B et al. (2016) Segregation behavior of magnetic ions in continuous flowing solution under gradient magnetic field. Chinese Physics B 25:074704. 4. Rodrigues I R et al. (2017) Magnetomigration of rare-earth ions triggered by concentration gradients. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 8:5301–5305. 5. Lei Z et al. (2017) Evaporation-assisted magnetic separation of rare-earth ions in aqueous solutions. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 121:24576–24587.
Liubov Lukina obtained her Engineer diploma from the National Mineral Resources University in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 2015. Subsequently, she completed the Master program in Chemical Engineering in Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland in 2016. Since her Master thesis work concerned separation of rare earth metals, she decided to pursue researching this direction. Currently, she is working on her Doctoral thesis on the border of Chemistry, Physics and Engineering in University of KU Leuven in Belgium. She hopes that her work will help developing green methods for rare earth metal recycling from electronic and mining waste.
E-mail: liubov.lukina@kuleuven.be