Microporous Framework (Nb, Fe)-Silicate with Much Potential to Remove Rare-Earth Elements from Waters

Zhi Lin; Daniela Tavares; Eduarda Pereira; João Rocha

doi:10.1002/chem.202202435

Microporous Framework (Nb, Fe)-Silicate with Much Potential to Remove Rare-Earth Elements from Waters

Chemistry. 2022 Dec 27;28(72):e202202435. doi: 10.1002/chem.202202435. Epub 2022 Oct 28.

Authors

Zhi Lin¹, Daniela Tavares², Eduarda Pereira², João Rocha¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
² Department of Chemistry, LAQV-REQUIMTE - Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.

Abstract

Nanoparticles of a new small-pore metal silicate formulated as Na_2.9 (Nb_1.55 Fe_0.45 )Si₂ O₁₀ ⋅ xH₂ O and exhibiting the structure of previously reported Rb₂ (Nb₂ O₄ )(Si₂ O₆ ) ⋅ H₂ O have been synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions. Replacement of the bulky Rb⁺ by smaller Na⁺ ions was accomplished by stabilizing the framework structure via partial occupancy of the Nb⁵⁺ sites by Fe³⁺ ions. Exploratory ion-exchange assays evidence the considerable potential of this new silicate to remove rare-earth elements from aqueous solutions.

Keywords: hydrothermal synthesis; microporous; niobium silicate; rare earth removal; silicate.

Abstract

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