Research Projects

Neodymium, a crucial rare earth element, is used in various applications such as magnets, smart phones, catalysts, and electronic displays. India holds one-fifth of the world's total rare earth reserves in monazite ore. However, the importation of refined neodymium-based products incurs financial losses. The lack of indigenous separation technology and process techniques hinders the separation of neodymium from its neighboring element praseodymium. Conventional solvent extractants like alamine 336, aliquat 336, primene, di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA), ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester, cyanex 272, tri-n-butyl phosphate, and naphthenic acid are used for solvent extraction, but they are difficult to separate due to lanthanide contraction and saponification. Ionic liquids offer a green alternative with better performance, reducing extractant loss and limiting the need for organic diluents. This project aims to synthesize various amine-based ionic liquids with different substituents and investigate their potential for separating neodymium from praseodymium.