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Research article2024Peer reviewed

Adsorption of yttrium (Y3+) and concentration of rare earth elements from phosphogypsum using chitin and chitin aerogel

Glaydson S. dos Reis; Diana Pinto; Sabrina F. Lütke; Éder C. Lima; Luis F.O. Silva; Irineu A.S. De Brum; Guilherme L. Dotto

Abstract

Chitin powder and chitin-aerogel were prepared from shrimp wastes and used to uptake Y3+ from aqueous solutions and concentrate this rare earth element from phosphogypsum (PG). Chitin aerogel displays a specific surface area of 945 m2/g, while chitin powder is 3.6 m2/g, which largely influences its adsorption ability. Regarding the adsorption in synthetic solutions, the effect of pH on Y3+ removal is strong for chitin powder adsorbent. In contrast, no big pH influence was detected for chitin aerogel. Electrostatic interactions and chelation can highlight the proposed mechanism of Y3+ on chitin adsorbents for the powder and aerogel. Furthermore, in addition to these interactions, pore filling/pore diffusion is the main mechanism of Y3+ removal in the chitin aerogel. Chitin aerogel is efficient in concentrating 8 times the Y3+ from PG, a very complex matrix. The complex chitin aerogel-Y3+ can be a secondary source of rare earth elements for other applications.

Keywords

Rare earths; Sustainable material; Chitin powder; Chitin porous aerogel; Yttrium adsorption and recovery

Published in

Journal of Rare Earths
2024, Volume: 42, number: 4, pages: 775-782