Overview of Functionalized Porous Materials for Rare-Earth Element Separation and Recovery

• DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122824
• Publication Date: 2024-06-13T14:41:03Z
• Authors: Yong Peng; Pingxin Zhu; Yin Zou; Qingyi Gao; Shaohui Xiong; Binjun Liang; Bin Xiao
• Keywords: QD241-441; research status; Organic chemistry; adsorption method; Review; porous materials; 01 natural sciences; separation and recovery; rare-earth elements; 0104 chemical sciences

The exceptional photoelectromagnetic characteristics of rare-earth elements contribute significantly to their indispensable position in the high-tech industry. The exponential expansion of the demand for high-purity rare earth and related compounds can be attributed to the swift advancement of contemporary technology. Nevertheless, rare-earth elements are finite and limited resources, and their excessive mining unavoidably results in resource depletion and environmental degradation. Hence, it is crucial to establish a highly effective approach for the extraction and reclamation of rare-earth elements. Adsorption is regarded as a promising technique for the recovery of rare-earth elements owing to its simplicity, environmentally friendly nature, and cost-effectiveness. The efficacy of adsorption is contingent upon the performance characteristics of the adsorbent material. Presently, there is a prevalent utilization of porous adsorbent materials with substantial specific surface areas and plentiful surface functional groups in the realm of selectively separating and recovering rare-earth elements. This paper presents a thorough examination of porous inorganic carbon materials, porous inorganic silicon materials, porous organic polymers, and metal–organic framework materials. The adsorption performance and processes for rare-earth elements are the focal points of discussion about these materials. Furthermore, this work investigates the potential applications of porous materials in the domain of the adsorption of rare-earth elements.