CMI researchers at Ames Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight
Achievements
- Gas sparging of a concentrated Sm-Co-Fe leachate under pressure produces high purity Sm crystallites
- Dissolved gas drives selective precipitation of Sm; Co and Fe retained in aqueous phase
- Nucleation Scaffold grants surface selectivity
Significance and impact
- Reagent-free treatment to produce a highly selective separation
- No lasting impact to solution chemistry
- Reduced reagent costs
- No heating/cooling requirements
- >99% purity Sm sulfate product
Next steps
- Develop pathways for subsequent metal separations and supernate reuse
- Investigate additional REE leachates
