Collaborative Research RUI: CAS: Development of Tripodal Ligands for Next-Generation Rare Earth Element Separations

在这个由化学部化学结构、动力学和机制B （CSDM-B）项目资助的合作项目中，格兰谷州立大学化学系的Shannon Biros和坦帕大学化学系、生物化学系和物理系的Eric Werner正在开发一系列金属螯合剂，用于结合f元素，包括有价值的稀土金属。现代技术的应用，包括与汽车电池、医疗诊断试剂和先进光学材料的开发有关的应用，增加了从原材料来源和从消费品中回收金属来源更有效地获取稀土元素的需求。该项目旨在开发改进的金属分离和提取方法，同时增加f元素化学和萃取剂设计的基础知识。在这一合作项目中，包括三名社区大学生在内的本科生骨干将在有机合成、无机配位化学、发光和分析化学等广泛领域接受培训。主要研究人员还将通过内部和外部会议演讲来培养学生的沟通技巧，并将继续致力于支持实验室中来自科学领域服务不足人群的学生。包括稀土金属在内的f块元素在现代社会中至关重要，在智能手机、混合动力汽车电池、LED（发光二极管）照明等常见设备中找到了应用材料。不幸的是，从回收材料中提纯它们和从矿石中分离它们仍然是一项重大挑战。在这个合作项目中，将合成含有氧化氨甲酰甲基膦螯合基团的新型三足配体。这些代表了该团队将开发的下一代化合物，作为选择性镧系元素（Ln）和锕系元素（An）金属萃取剂，以改善f元素的分离。金属结合能力将通过NMR（核磁共振）和IR（红外）光谱、MS（质谱）、x射线衍射和发光来表征，并将确定每种新配体对Ln离子的萃取能力——从硝酸水溶液中萃取到有机溶剂中。该项目的总体目标是通过对配体结构和提取协议条件进行系统的改变来增强金属结合和选择性提取该配体系统。这些研究旨在进一步了解合理设计有效的Ln/An萃取剂的参数，同时也扩展了一般f元素配位化学的知识。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In this collaborative project, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics & Mechanisms B (CSDM-B) Program of the Chemistry Division, Shannon Biros of the Department of Chemistry at Grand Valley State University and Eric Werner of the Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics at the University of Tampa are developing a series of metal chelating agents for binding to f-elements, including the valuable rare earth metals. Applications in modern technologies including those associated with the development of automobile batteries, medical diagnostic agents, and advanced optical materials have increased the need for more efficient acquisition of rare earth elements from both raw material sources and recycled metal sources from consumer products. This project seeks to develop improved metal separations and extraction methods while adding to fundamental knowledge of f-element chemistry and extraction agent design. In this collaborative effort, a cadre of undergraduate students, including three community college students, will be trained in a broad range of areas including organic synthesis, inorganic coordination chemistry, luminescence, and analytical chemistry. The principal investigators will also work to develop student communication skills through internal and external conference presentations and will continue their commitment to supporting students in their labs who are from underserved populations in the sciences.The f-block elements, including the rare earth metals, are critical in modern society, finding materials applications in common devices including smart phones, hybrid car batteries, and LED (light-emitting diode) lighting. Unfortunately, their purification from recycled materials and isolation from ground ores remains a significant challenge. In this collaborative project, new tripodal ligands that contain the carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide chelating group will be synthesized. These represent the next generation of compounds to be developed by the team to serve as selective lanthanide (Ln) and actinide (An) metal extraction agents for improved f-element separations. Metal-binding ability will be characterized by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and IR (infra-red) spectroscopy, MS (mass spectrometry), X-ray diffraction and luminescence, and the extraction ability of each new ligand for Ln ions-- out of aqueous nitric acid solutions and into an organic solvent--will be determined. The overarching goal of the project is to enhance metal binding and selective extraction for this ligand system by making systematic changes to the ligand structure and to the extraction protocol conditions. These studies are designed to further understanding of the parameters that enable rational design of effective Ln/An extraction agents while also expanding knowledge of general f-element coordination chemistry.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.