Rare earth metal separation with new amide functionalised ionic liquids: understanding species and selectivity

Liquid-liquid extraction is the preferred method of separation utilising organic extractants owing to their scalability and commercial potential. The use of volatile diluents is a major safety concern in these large separation processes.

Task-specific ionic liquids have been developed in response, benefiting from their negligible vapour pressure offering an alternative for liquid-liquid rare-earth metal separation.<br><br>The work presented in this thesis aimed to develop the multifunctional amide ionic liquid, [MAIL][NTf2], for extraction of rare-earth metals from waste magnet feeds, specifically separation of dysprosium(III) and neodymium(III). In addition to designing and synthesising new generations of extractants with the hope of developing superior extractants.<br>