Separation of rare earth matals

文件类型：PDF文档
文件大小：574K
A method for extracting a rare earth metal from a mixture of one or more rare earth metals comprises contacting an acidic solution of the rare earth metal with a composition which comprises an ionic liquid to form an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase into which the rare earth metal has been selectively extracted; said ionic liquid has the formula : [Cat+][X-], wherein [Cat+] is [Y+]L1N(L2-EDG)2, where L1 and L2 are organic linking groups and EDG are electron donating groups all defined further in claim 1. In the worked embodiment, the ionic liquid is [MAIL+][NTf2-] (formula I below). The cation [MAIL+] can be formed by the reaction of 1-(3-aminopropyl)-imidazole with N, N-diisobutyl-2-chloroacetamide. The ionic liquid itself is claimed. Formula I :