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Advanced Functional Materials for Hydrometallurgical and Environmental Applications

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 3793

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: solvent-impregnated resins; supported ionic liquid; adsorption and separation; ultrasound-strengthened adsorption or leaching; hydrometallurgy

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Guest Editor
School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: outfield-intensified hydrometallurgy; separation and purification; treatment industrial wastewater; the comprehensive utilization of solid wastes
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced functional materials have been broadly appiled in hydrometallurgy and environment-related fields. On the one hand, functional materials have been exploited by researchers to separate and enrich valuable metals from the complex leaching solutions of low-grade metal ores and secondary resources. On the other hand, these materials have also been adopted for the sepration and removal of heavey metals, harmful gases, or organic pollutants exposed in the environment.

This Special Issue on ‘Advanced Functional Materials Used for Hydrometallurgical and Environmental Applications’ aims to explore the preparation, characterization, and application of advanced functional materials in hydrometallurgical and environmental protection processes. This Special Issue is mainly focused on solvent-impregnated resins, supported ionic liquids, composite electrode materials, ion-imprinted polymers, solid wastes based on adsorption materials, etc. It encourages thorough research on the reveal of adsorption mechanisms based on  quantum chemistry simulation and other multidisciplinary approaches.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit your original research papers, comprehensive reviews, and inovative communications to this Special Issue.

Dr. Bo Chen
Prof. Dr. Shenxu Bao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • solvent-impregnated resins
  • supported ionic liquid
  • ion-imprinted polymers
  • composite electrode materials
  • solid wastes based adsorption materials
  • the separation of enrichment of metals
  • the adsorption and separation of harmful gases
  • the removal of organic pollutants
  • the preparation and characterization of functional materials
  • adsorption mechanisms based on quantum chemistry simulation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 2235 KiB  
Article
A Study of the Structure of an Anion Exchange Resin with a Quaternary Ammonium Functional Group by Using Infrared Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations
by Katarzyna Chruszcz-Lipska and Elżbieta Szostak
Materials 2024, 17(24), 6132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17246132 - 15 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1440
Abstract
The large numbers of ion exchange resins used in various industries (food, pharmaceutitics, mining, hydrometallurgy), and especially in water treatment, are based on cross-linked polystyrene and divinylbenzene copolymers with functional groups capable of ion exchange. Their advantage, which makes them environmentally friendly, is [...] Read more.
The large numbers of ion exchange resins used in various industries (food, pharmaceutitics, mining, hydrometallurgy), and especially in water treatment, are based on cross-linked polystyrene and divinylbenzene copolymers with functional groups capable of ion exchange. Their advantage, which makes them environmentally friendly, is the possibility of their regeneration and reuse. Taking into account the wide application of these materials, styrene–divinylbenzene resin with a quaternary ammonium functional group, Amberlite®IRA402, was characterized using a well-known and widely used method, FT-IR spectroscopy. As the infrared spectrum of the tested ion exchange resin was rich in bands, its detailed assignment was supported by quantum chemical calculations (DFT/B3LYP/6-31g** and DFT/PCM/B3LYP/6-31g**). Using appropriate 3D models of the resin structure, the optimization of geometry, the infrared spectrum and atomic charges from an atomic polar tensor (APT) were calculated. A detailed description of the infrared spectrum of Amberlite®IRA402 resin (Cl form) in the spectral range of 4000–700 cm−1 was performed for the first time. The charge distribution on individual fragments of the resin structure in aqueous solution was also calculated for the first time. These studies will certainly allow for a better understanding of the styrene–divinylbenzene resin interaction in various processes with other substances, particularly in sorption processes. Full article
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12 pages, 1497 KiB  
Article
Selective Scandium Elution from D2EHPA-Impregnated Ion-Exchange Resin After Metal Loading from Acidic Chloride Solutions
by Eleni Mikeli, Danai Marinos, Efthymios Balomenos and Dimitrios Panias
Materials 2024, 17(24), 6089; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17246089 - 13 Dec 2024
Viewed by 670
Abstract
This paper investigates the elution behavior of scandium from D2EHPA (Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid)-impregnated resins that proceed with metal loading from acidic chloride solutions. D2EHPA resins stem from their recognized selectivity for Sc extraction from acidic solutions. This study focuses [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the elution behavior of scandium from D2EHPA (Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid)-impregnated resins that proceed with metal loading from acidic chloride solutions. D2EHPA resins stem from their recognized selectivity for Sc extraction from acidic solutions. This study focuses on the elution process after ion-exchange extraction and examines various elution systems to achieve selective Sc recovery. Among the tested elution media, fluoride-based systems were proven effective for Sc desorption. The elution of the resins was demonstrated in a column set-up, where complete and selective elution of Sc was achieved. Τhis study contributes to the advancement of Sc extraction methods from chloride solutions, offering valuable insights for industrial applications, especially emphasizing the importance of optimizing the elution step for achieving efficient recovery of Sc. Full article
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15 pages, 8793 KiB  
Article
Antimony(V) Adsorption and Partitioning by Humic Acid-Modified Ferrihydrite: Insights into Environmental Remediation and Transformation Processes
by Wei Ding, Shenxu Bao, Yimin Zhang, Bo Chen and Zhanhao Wang
Materials 2024, 17(17), 4172; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174172 - 23 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1129
Abstract
Antimony (Sb) migration in soil and water systems is predominantly governed by its adsorption onto ferrihydrite (FH), a process strongly influenced by natural organic matter. This study investigates the adsorption behavior, stability, and mechanism of FH and FH–humic acid (FH-HA) complexes on Sb(V), [...] Read more.
Antimony (Sb) migration in soil and water systems is predominantly governed by its adsorption onto ferrihydrite (FH), a process strongly influenced by natural organic matter. This study investigates the adsorption behavior, stability, and mechanism of FH and FH–humic acid (FH-HA) complexes on Sb(V), along with the fate of adsorbed Sb(V) during FH aging. Batch adsorption experiments reveal that initial pH and concentration significantly influence Sb(V) sorption. Lower pH levels decrease adsorption, while higher concentrations enhance it. Sb(V) adsorption increases with prolonged contact time, with FH exhibiting a higher adsorption capacity than FH-HA complexes. Incorporating HA onto FH surfaces reduces reactive adsorption sites, decreasing Sb(V) adsorption. Adsorbed FH-HA complexes exhibit a higher specific surface area than co-precipitated FH-HA, demonstrating stronger Sb(V) adsorption capacity under various conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms that Sb(V) adsorption primarily occurs through ligand exchange, forming Fe-O-Sb complexes. HA inhibits the migration of Sb(V), thereby enhancing its retention within the FH and FH-HA complexes. During FH transformation, a portion of Sb(V) may replace Fe(III) within converted iron minerals. However, the combination of relatively high adsorption capacity and significantly lower desorption rates makes adsorbed FH-HA complexes promising candidates for sustained Sb adsorption over extended periods. These findings enhance our understanding of Sb(V) behavior and offer insights for effective remediation strategies in complex environmental systems. Full article
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