Accelerating process development by synthesis, auto extraction

series of diagrams shows one-pot synthesis of a DGA ligand at 200 g scale
One-pot synthesis of a DGA ligand at 200 g scale

CMI researchers from Ames National Laboratory and Purdue University conducted the activity for this highlight

Innovation
Established a methodology to synthesize ligands for flow sheet to separate light and heavy rare earth elements (REE). A life cycle assessment (LCA) shows potential environmental advantages for scaling up. 

Achievement

  • A solvent-free method to synthesize diglycolamides (scalable to 200 g) was developed with high yields and excellent purities (up to 98%). 
  • An automated, high-throughput workflow for liquid-liquid extraction, achieving over 180 runs in 48 hours.

Significance and Impact

  • LCA shows that our synthesis method outperforms the prior-art in each impact category, especially showing a 67% reduction in global warming potential. 
  • The acquired data enables the development of a promising flowsheet for separating light and heavy REEs.

Hub Targets Addressed 

  • Increasing the speed of discovery and integration.
  • Developing and applying scientific tools to accelerate technology maturation.
spider diagram shows life cycle assessment of new DGA synthesis pathway comparing to prior art method.
Life cycle assessment of new DGA synthesis pathway comparing to prior art method.