Abstract
Yttrium (Y) is an essential lanthanide rare earth element and can be effectively extracted and purified using a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) system. However, the stability of HFSLM system is a significant challenge. Pseudoemulsion-hollow fiber strip dispersion (PEHFSD) system, providing excellent stability, is attracting research attention. In this work, the recovery of Y(III) by PEHFSD system using di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as a carrier was investigated. The effects of several operating parameters, including the initial concentration of Y(III) in the feed phase, the flow rate of feed, the stirring speed and the volumetric ratio of feed to strip on Y(III) separation were studied. The Y(III) transport was analyzed on the concentration ratio of Y(III) ions, percent extraction, percent stripping and overall mass transfer coefficient (Kp). The PEHFSD system outperformed HFSLM system regarding separation performance and stability. Kp of HFSLM system decreased after the second run, but Kp of PEHFSD system remained constant even at the fifth run. The dispersed droplets in the strip dispersion phase in the PEHFSD system enhanced separation performance and stability of the membrane module.
Highlights
In nature, yttrium is not found as a free element
In pseudo-emulsion hollow fiber strip dispersion (PEHFSD) system, a pseudo-emulsion of organic and strip phase flows through the shell-side whilst the feed phase runs in the tube-side
Other authors have reported a similar trend of permeation for the transport of Zn(II), Co(II), V(V) and U(IV) in the PEHFSD system[30,31,32,33]
Summary
Yttrium is not found as a free element It is always found in rare-earth minerals and uranium ores[5]. Liquid membrane techniques are promising due to their high cost-effectiveness, low energy and extractant consumption, and simplicity[7]. These techniques benefit from non-equilibrium mass transfer and up-hill effect, where solute can transport across the membrane against their concentration gradient. In order to handle these issues, different configurations of HFSLM with strip/organic dispersion technique have been proposed. These configurations include hollow fiber renewal liquid membrane (HFRLM)[15] and pseudo-emulsion hollow fiber strip dispersion (PEHFSD)[16] system. PEHFSD system is attracting much scientific interest as www.nature.com/scientificreports/
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