Towards Sustainable Lanthanide Recovery from Industrial Waste

This project aims to investigate the in situ interaction of graphene oxide (GO) with hydrated metal cations (Cu, Ce, Nd, Yb, and Pt) in aqueous solutions to develop new approaches for lanthanide (Ln) recycling from industrial waste. Understanding Ln separation is essential for recovering rare earth elements used in electronics, magnets, and catalysts, while comparisons with Pt and Cu will clarify their sorption behaviors, redox properties, and recovery potential using GO. Using non-resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (NIXS) at the Carbon K-edge and valence to core X-ray Emission Spectroscopy (XES), we will examine Cu, Ce, Nd, Yb, and Pt sorption in aqueous dispersions of single-layered GO and multilayered GO membranes (GOMs). The obtained knowledge will enhance our understanding of the sorption mechanism and drive the design of novel carbon-based materials for efficient Ln separation.

本研究旨在探究氧化石墨烯（graphene oxide, GO）与水溶液中的水合金属阳离子（Cu、Ce、Nd、Yb及Pt）的原位相互作用，以开发从工业废料中回收镧系元素（lanthanide, Ln）的全新方法。理解镧系元素的分离机制，对于回收电子器件、永磁体及催化剂中使用的稀土元素至关重要；而通过与Pt和Cu的对比分析，可明确氧化石墨烯对这些元素的吸附行为、氧化还原特性及回收潜力。本研究将借助碳K边非共振非弹性X射线散射（non-resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, NIXS）以及价态-芯态X射线发射光谱（valence to core X-ray Emission Spectroscopy, XES），检测单层氧化石墨烯与多层氧化石墨烯膜（multilayered GO membranes, GOMs）水分散体系中Cu、Ce、Nd、Yb及Pt的吸附过程。所得研究结果将深化对吸附机制的认知，并推动高效镧系元素分离用新型碳基材料的设计与开发。