Green Separation Chemistry and Technique for Rare Earth Elements
A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Separation Engineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 22
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Rare earth elements (REEs) are of great significance for the development of electronics, nuclear technology, military equipment, and renewable energy. However, their separation and purification remain a significant chemical challenge, traditionally associated with substantial environmental burdens. This Special Issue is dedicated to showcasing greener alternatives for REE processing and advancing sustainable, environmentally benign strategies for their recovery and purification. Key topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Alternative Extractants: Developing novel ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents (DESs), and CHON-type ligands.
- Novel Techniques: Emerging methods in membrane separation, chromatography, and solid-phase extraction.
- Waste Valorization: Advanced, low-waste processes for the circular recovery of REEs from end-of-life products.
We welcome original research and review articles at the forefront of this field, showcasing pioneering strategies and solutions.
Dr. Hongmin Cui
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Separations is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- green solvent extraction
- ionic liquids
- deep eutectic solvents
- sustainable hydrometallurgy
- membrane separation
- selective adsorption
- recycling
- waste minimization
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