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Nanotechnology

Highly Efficient Recovery of Rare Earth Elements Using Magnetic Core-shell Nanoparticles

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers from the School of Minerals Processing & Bioengineering have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of nanotechnology, developing a highly efficient magnetic adsorbent for the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from wastewater. The innovative material, known as Fe3O4@PDAPEI, consists of an Fe3O4 core, a polydopamine intermediate layer, and a polyethylenimine outer layer. This cutting-edge adsorbent has shown exceptional performance in extracting Gd3+, Nd3+, Ho3+, and Y3+ from low-concentration solutions, exceeding the adsorption capacities of most reported magnetic REE adsorbents in the literature.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research team, led by Junwei Han, designed an efficient magnetic adsorbent (Fe3O4@PDAPEI) that consists of an Fe3O4 core, a polydopamine intermediate layer, and a polyethylenimine outer layer.
  • Fe3O4@PDAPEI exhibited exceptional performance in extracting Gd3+, Nd3+, Ho3+, and Y3+ from low-concentration solutions, with adsorption capacities of 168.3, 168.5, 179.7, and 180.3 mg/g, respectively.
  • The adsorption capacities of Fe3O4@PDAPEI exceeded those of most reported magnetic REE adsorbents in the literature.
  • The adsorption behavior of Fe3O4@PDAPEI was fitted to the pseudo-second-order model, intraparticle diffusion model, and Langmuir model.
  • Fe3O4@PDAPEI showed good reusability, with the adsorption capacity remaining above 90% of the initial value after five reuse cycles.
  • Despite the presence of competing ions (Na+, Mg2+, and Al3+) in model wastewater, the adsorption capacity of Fe3O4@PDAPEI was maintained above 100 mg/g for all four REEs.
  • The adsorption mechanism of Fe3O4@PDAPEI was investigated via density functional theory calculations, zeta potential measurements, and surface force measurements via atomic force microscopy.
  • The research study provides a highly efficient magnetic adsorbent and evaluates the underlying interaction mechanism from both theoretical and experimental perspectives.
  • The study has been peer-reviewed and the results have been published in Science China Materials in 2025.

Statistics:

  • Adsorption capacities of Fe3O4@PDAPEI: 168.3 mg/g (Gd3+), 168.5 mg/g (Nd3+), 179.7 mg/g (Ho3+), and 180.3 mg/g (Y3+).
  • Adsorption capacities exceeding those of most reported magnetic REE adsorbents in the literature.
  • Adsorption capacity remaining above 90% of the initial value after five reuse cycles.
  • Adsorption capacity maintained above 100 mg/g for all four REEs in the presence of competing ions (Na+, Mg2+, and Al3+) in model wastewater.

Sources:

  • Han, J., Mao, X., Wei, X., Sun, Y., Zhan, W., Zeng, H., & Hu, Y. (2025). Highly Efficient Recovery of Light, Medium and Heavy Rare Earth Elements Using Magnetic Core-shell Nanoparticles. Science China Materials, 2025.
  • NewsRx. (2025, July 7). Studies Conducted at School of Minerals Processing & Bioengineering on Nanoparticles Recently Reported (Highly Efficient Recovery of Light, Medium and Heavy Rare Earth Elements Using Magnetic Core-shell Nanoparticles). Nanotechnology Weekly, p 2259.

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