Neodymium and Yttrium Adsorption on Citrate-Modified Cellulose: Experimental and Computational Insights.

ABSTRACT: Neodymium (Nd) and yttrium (Y), two rare earth elements, play a crucial role in a wide range of technologies, and their separation is a challenging process. Adsorption-based approaches offer a sustainable and cost-efficient substitute for the most widely used solvent extraction procedure. Here, we assess the potential of cellulose citrate (CC) as an adsorbent for the removal of Y and Nd through both experimental and computational approaches. CC was successfully synthesized by reacting raw cellulose extracted from Spartium junceum (Spanish broom) with molten citric acid using a green approach that does not require any solvent. The final goal is to shed light on the mechanism of adsorption by citrate-functionalized cellulose by interpreting the adsorption measurements through kinetics

SUBMITTER: Perri AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12903179 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature