Recycling and separation of critical elements using porous materials

使用多孔材料回收和分离关键元素

• 批准号: 2028498
• 负责人: Michael Janik
• 金额: $ 34.29万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2028498&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Recycling; separation; critical; elements; using

Critical metallic elements, such as lithium, rare-earth elements (REEs), cobalt, and aluminum, are non-renewable resources that are vital to modern technologies. For example, lithium is used in batteries for electronic devices and electric vehicles, and REEs are used in jet engines and anti-corrosion coatings for metals. Some critical elements, such as lithium and REEs, are not naturally abundant within the United States, and their supply and cost can be affected by shifting geopolitical factors. Understanding how critical elements can be separated and purified will advance the Nation's economy and security through advancements in mining and recycling of domestic critical elements. However, it is challenging to achieve the separation of critical metal elements with high purities by existing methods. Microporous titanosilicate materials contain unique structural features that are suitable for separating critical metal elements with high purities. Therefore, this research project will use a set of experimental and computational methods to design microporous titanosilicate materials for the highly selective separation of critical elements. The project also involves training students of various educational levels as well as outreach activities that disseminate the research findings to a broader audience from diverse backgrounds.The goal of this research project is to elucidate how the spatial arrangements of ion-adsorption sites in microporous titanosilicates facilitate high-resolution separation of metal ions with very similar properties by continuous ion exchange/continuous ion chromatography (CIX/CIC). Titanosilicates have long-range order ion-adsorption sites inside their micropores, where the micropores are channels with sizes similar to hydrated metal ions. Through material design, these ordered ion-adsorption sites could offer tunability toward metal ion selectivity. The investigators will use a set of experimental and computational methods for different length scales (ion adsorption site, unit cell, and particle scales) to design materials for the separation of REEs and other metal ions. The project will first focus on relating the fine structural features inside titanosilicate pores, such as charged site density and distribution, to REE ion adsorption and separation performance. Structures with different charged site densities will be synthesized and simulated. Ion adsorption equilibrium constants will be measured experimentally as well as computed using density functional theory calculations. Computational methods describing the hydration and dehydration of metal ions inside micropores will be developed. These efforts will lead to recommendations for structural features for separating REE cations. The project will then focus on evaluating the effects of material structure (chemical composition, pore size, and pore topology) on metal ion migration rates and activation energies. This outcome will be achieved by studying ion adsorption and migration on microporous materials of various structures (titanosilicates, clays, and zeolites) using experimental and computational methods. Finally, the project will focus on determining the effect of particle size and morphology on REE adsorption capacity, strength, and kinetics, which will be an important step in preparing these materials for practical applications. This project will provide guidelines for designing microporous materials for separating chemically similar metal ions (such as separating REEs from each other or separating lithium and sodium), which can also be customized based on the feedstock composition and impurities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

关键的金属元素，例如锂，稀土元素（REES），钴和铝，是对现代技术至关重要的不可再生资源。例如，锂用于用于电子设备和电动汽车的电池中，REE用于喷气发动机和金属的抗腐蚀涂料。在美国，某些关键因素（例如锂和里斯）并不自然丰富，它们的供应和成本可能会受到转移地缘政治因素的影响。了解如何将关键要素分开和纯化将通过采矿和回收国内关键要素的进步来推动国家的经济和安全。但是，通过现有方法将关键金属元素分离为高纯度是一个挑战。微孔钛硅酸盐材料包含独特的结构特征，适用于分离具有高纯度的关键金属元件。因此，该研究项目将使用一组实验和计算方法来设计微孔钛硅酸盐材料，以高度选择性地分离关键元素。 The project also involves training students of various educational levels as well as outreach activities that disseminate the research findings to a broader audience from diverse backgrounds.The goal of this research project is to elucidate how the spatial arrangements of ion-adsorption sites in microporous titanosilicates facilitate high-resolution separation of metal ions with very similar properties by continuous ion exchange/continuous ion chromatography (CIX/CIC).钛硅酸盐在其微孔内有长距离的离子吸附位点，其中微孔是与水合金属离子相似的通道。通过材料设计，这些有序的离子吸附位点可以为金属离子选择性提供可调性。研究人员将对不同的长度尺度（离子吸附位点，晶胞和粒子尺度）使用一组实验和计算方法，以设计REE和其他金属离子分离的材料。该项目将首先专注于将钛硅酸盐毛孔内的精细结构特征（例如带电的位点密度和分布）与REE离子吸附和分离性能联系起来。将合成和模拟具有不同电源位点密度的结构。离子吸附平衡常数将在实验中进行测量，并使用密度函数理论计算进行计算。将开发描述微孔体内金属离子的水合和脱水的计算方法。这些努力将为分离REE阳离子的结构特征提供建议。然后，该项目将集中于评估材料结构（化学成分，孔径和孔拓扑）对金属离子迁移速率和激活能的影响。通过使用实验和计算方法研究各种结构（钛，粘土和沸石）的微孔材料的离子吸附和迁移，可以实现此结果。最后，该项目将着重于确定粒度和形态对REE吸附能力，强度和动力学的影响，这将是为实用应用准备这些材料的重要一步。该项目将为设计微孔材料提供指南，以将化学相似的金属离子分开（例如将Rees彼此分离或分离锂和钠），也可以根据原料组成和杂质进行定制，该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并通过使用基金会的智能效果进行评估，并通过评估了CRACRIT和BRODIT和广泛的影响。