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Separations
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Separation Technology for Metal Extraction and Removal
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Separation Technology for Metal Extraction and Removal

A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Purification Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 June 2025 | Viewed by 4755

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Minhua Su

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
Interests: functional materials; Wastewater purification
Dr. Changzhong Liao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
Interests: advance materials; waste-to-resources
Dr. Jinfeng Tang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
Interests: sustainable chemistry; Cleaner production

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The excessive release of metal or nuclides into the environment gravely contaminates eco-systems and thearthens human health, and the extraction and removal of metal/nuclides from various wastewater streams is of great importance. This Special Issue welcomes contributions focused on experimental studies and theoretical analyses of phenomena associated with and arising from the extraction and removal of metal/nuclides from various wastewater streams. We also welcome innovative process development and simulation, equipment design, and fabrication that can advance separation technologies for metal extraction and removal. The preparation and modification of materials used in separation and/or purification operations can be considered if the intended separation and/or purification is an essential part of the work rather than a tool for material characterization.

Dr. Minhua Su
Dr. Changzhong Liao
Dr. Jinfeng Tang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • metal extraction
  • toxic metal/nuclides removal
  • waste-to-resources
  • water purification
  • process development
  • material development and application

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2822 KiB  
Article
A Two-Dimensional Thiotitanate Ion Exchanger with High Cs+ Removal Performance
by Chang Wei, Shaoqing Jia, Yingying Zhao, Jiating Liu, Haiyan Sun, Meiling Feng and Xiaoying Huang
Separations 2025, 12(5), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations12050104 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 163
Abstract
137Cs is a persistent β/γ-emitter (t1/2 = 30.1 years) generated from 235U and 239Pu fission. It is a critical challenge to efficiently capture 137Cs+ for nuclear waste management due to its high solubility, [...] Read more.
137Cs is a persistent β/γ-emitter (t1/2 = 30.1 years) generated from 235U and 239Pu fission. It is a critical challenge to efficiently capture 137Cs+ for nuclear waste management due to its high solubility, environmental mobility, and propensity for biological accumulation. Herein, we prepare a two-dimensional (2D) thiotitanate Rb0.32TiS2·0.75H2O (denoted Rb-TiS2) using a special molten salt synthesis method, “Mg + RbCl”. Rb-TiS2 can selectively capture Cs+ from aqueous solutions. Its structure features a flexible anionic thiotitanate layer with Rb+ as counter ions located at the interlayer spaces. As an ion exchanger, it possesses high adsorption capacity (qmCs = 232.70 mg·g−1), rapid kinetics (the removal rate R > 72% within 10 min), and a wide pH tolerance range (pH = 4–12) for Cs⁺ adsorption. Through a single-crystal X-ray structural analysis, we elucidated the mechanism of Cs⁺ capture, revealing the ion exchange pathways between Cs⁺ and Rb+ in Rb-TiS2. This work not only provides an important reference for the synthesis of transition metal sulfides with alkali metal cations but also proves the application prospect of transition metal sulfides in radionuclide remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Separation Technology for Metal Extraction and Removal)
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18 pages, 8445 KiB  
Article
Irradiated Gao Miao Zi Bentonite for Uranium Retention: Performance and Mechanism
by Yushan Zhang, Gang Song, Yujie Mo, Shuwen Wang, Diyun Chen and Minhua Su
Separations 2025, 12(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations12010001 - 26 Dec 2024
Viewed by 658
Abstract
Bentonite has been considered as backfill material in the long-term deep geological disposal sites for radioactive waste. The performance of raw and irradiated bentonite based on the retention of radioactive nuclides, such as U(VI), is a critical factor for its application. Herein, the [...] Read more.
Bentonite has been considered as backfill material in the long-term deep geological disposal sites for radioactive waste. The performance of raw and irradiated bentonite based on the retention of radioactive nuclides, such as U(VI), is a critical factor for its application. Herein, the intrinsic features and adsorption behavior of Gao Miao Zi (GMZ) bentonite based on uranyl ions was investigated. In aqueous solutions, bentonite can achieve an adsorption rate of up to 100% for U(VI). The primary mechanism of U(VI) adsorption by GMZ bentonite is ion exchange, supplemented by surface complexation. Strong irradiation can introduce slight structural changes and framework fractures in bentonite, reducing its adsorption capacity for U(VI). This study provides an in-depth analysis of the adverse effects of high doses of radiation (100 kGy) on the microstructure and adsorption properties of bentonite, offering important insights for the safe storage of radioactive waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Separation Technology for Metal Extraction and Removal)
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14 pages, 1356 KiB  
Article
Innovative Nafion- and Lignin-Based Cation Exchange Materials Against Standard Resins for the Removal of Heavy Metals During Water Treatment
by Sara Bergamasco, Luis Alexander Hein, Laura Silvestri, Robert Hartmann, Giampiero Menegatti, Alfonso Pozio and Antonio Rinaldi
Separations 2024, 11(12), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11120357 - 21 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1304
Abstract
The contamination of water by heavy metals poses an escalating risk to human health and the environment, underscoring the critical need for efficient removal methods to secure safe water resources. This study evaluated the performance of four cationic exchange materials (labeled “PS—DVB”, “PA—DVB”, [...] Read more.
The contamination of water by heavy metals poses an escalating risk to human health and the environment, underscoring the critical need for efficient removal methods to secure safe water resources. This study evaluated the performance of four cationic exchange materials (labeled “PS—DVB”, “PA—DVB”, “TFSA”, and “OGL”) in removing or harvesting metals such as copper, silver, lead, cobalt, and nickel from aqueous solutions, several of which are precious and/or classified as Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) due to their economic importance and supply risk. The objective was to screen and benchmark the four ion exchange materials for water treatment applications by investigating their metal sequestration capacities. Experiments were conducted using synthetic solutions with controlled metal concentrations, analyzed through ICP-OES, and supported by kinetic modeling. The adsorption capacities (qe) obtained experimentally were compared with those predicted by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. This methodology enables high precision and reproducibility, validating its applicability for assessing ion exchange performance. The results indicated that PS—DVB and PA—DVB resins proved to be of “wide range”, exhibiting high efficacy for most of the metals tested, including CRM-designated ones, and suggesting their suitability for water purification. Additionally, the second-life Nafion-based “TFSA” material demonstrated commendable performance, highlighting its potential as a viable and technologically advanced alternative in water treatment. Lastly, the lignin-based material, “OGL”, representing the most innovative and sustainability apt option, offered relevant performance only in selected cases. The significant differences in performance among the resins underscore the impact of structural and compositional factors on adsorption efficiency. This study offers valuable insights for investigating and selecting new sustainable materials for treating contaminated water, opening new pathways for targeted and optimized solutions in environmental remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Separation Technology for Metal Extraction and Removal)
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22 pages, 6605 KiB  
Article
Technological Characterization of Cobalt and Nickel Ores from Greece for Metal Recovery
by Amina Eljoudiani, Carlos Hoffmann Sampaio, Josep Oliva, Moacir Medeiros Veras, Pura Alfonso, Hernan Anticoi, Stylianos Tampouris, Jose Luis Cortina and Percy Rodrigo Escalante
Separations 2024, 11(12), 345; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11120345 - 6 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1248
Abstract
Greece has mineral resources in which strategic elements such as nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) are present. In this study, characterizations of the metal concentrations of three laterite deposits, as well as minerals from a kiln originating from a mineral processing plant, were [...] Read more.
Greece has mineral resources in which strategic elements such as nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) are present. In this study, characterizations of the metal concentrations of three laterite deposits, as well as minerals from a kiln originating from a mineral processing plant, were carried out. The aim of this research was to integrate technological characterization data on the quantities of cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) present in the lateritic profiles of three mineral deposits from Greece and in kiln dust. The study was conducted at the Mineral Processing Laboratory of UPC/Bases Manresa. Aliquots were constituted for particle-size distribution tests by wet sieving followed by laser granulometry. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the mineralogical compositions. Sink–float tests were conducted to estimate the particle liberation. Mineral liberation analysis (MLA) was performed to understand the liberation and the association of minerals in the samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Separation Technology for Metal Extraction and Removal)
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11 pages, 3928 KiB  
Article
Effective Removal of Sr2+ Ions by K2SbPO6/Polyacrylonitrile Composite Microspheres
by Shuangjiang Li, Jianghai He, Yanling Guo, Lu Yang, Haiyan Sun, Meiling Feng and Xiaoying Huang
Separations 2024, 11(12), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11120344 - 3 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 845
Abstract
90Sr is one of the highly radioactive and hazardous nuclides in nuclear waste liquids. The high water solubility and mobility of 90Sr2+ ions make it difficult to effectively remove 90Sr from the complex aqueous environment. Herein, K2SbPO [...] Read more.
90Sr is one of the highly radioactive and hazardous nuclides in nuclear waste liquids. The high water solubility and mobility of 90Sr2+ ions make it difficult to effectively remove 90Sr from the complex aqueous environment. Herein, K2SbPO6, a phosphatoantimonate ion exchange material with an excellent removal ability for Sr2+ ions, has been organically granulated with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) by an automated method to form K2SbPO6/PAN composite microspheres. The K2SbPO6/PAN microspheres with radiation resistance exhibit a high maximum adsorption capacity (qmSr) of 131.15 mg g−1 for Sr2+ ions and retain the high removal rate (RSr) in a wide pH range (pH = 3–12). It is important that K2SbPO6/PAN microspheres could efficiently treat Sr2+ ions solutions in a dynamic adsorption manner even at 970 bed volumes (RSr > 81%). This work paves the way for the preparation of low-cost ion exchange materials with the advantages of regular shape and easy operation by a simple and fast method and the practical application of powdered ion exchange materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Separation Technology for Metal Extraction and Removal)
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