Novel Functionalized Cellulose Microspheres for Efficient Separation of Lithium Ion and Its Isotopes: Synthesis and Adsorption Performance

Ichen Chen; Chenxi Xu; Jing Peng; Dong Han; Siqi Liu; Maolin Zhai

doi:10.3390/molecules24152762

Molecules (Jul 2019)

Novel Functionalized Cellulose Microspheres for Efficient Separation of Lithium Ion and Its Isotopes: Synthesis and Adsorption Performance

Ichen Chen,
Chenxi Xu,
Jing Peng,
Dong Han,
Siqi Liu,
Maolin Zhai

Affiliations

Ichen Chen: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Radiochemistry and Radiation Chemistry Key Laboratory of Fundamental Science, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Chenxi Xu: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Radiochemistry and Radiation Chemistry Key Laboratory of Fundamental Science, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Jing Peng: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Radiochemistry and Radiation Chemistry Key Laboratory of Fundamental Science, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Dong Han: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Radiochemistry and Radiation Chemistry Key Laboratory of Fundamental Science, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Siqi Liu: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Radiochemistry and Radiation Chemistry Key Laboratory of Fundamental Science, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Maolin Zhai: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Radiochemistry and Radiation Chemistry Key Laboratory of Fundamental Science, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24152762
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24, no. 15
p. 2762

Abstract

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The adsorption of lithium ions(Li+) and the separation of lithium isotopes have attracted interests due to their important role in energy storage and nuclear energy, respectively. However, it is still challenging to separate the Li+ and its isotopes with high efficiency and selectivity. A novel cellulose-based microsphere containing crown ethers groups (named as MCM-g-AB15C5) was successfully synthesized by pre-irradiation-induced emulsion grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and followed by the chemical reaction between the epoxy group of grafted polymer and 4′-aminobenzo-15-crown-5 (AB15C5). By using MCM-g-AB15C5 as adsorbent, the effects of solvent, metal ions, and adsorption temperature on the adsorption uptake of Li+ and separation factor of 6Li/7Li were investigated in detail. Solvent with low polarity, high adsorption temperature in acetonitrile could improve the uptake of Li+ and separation factor of lithium isotopes. The MCM-g-AB15C5 exhibited the strongest adsorption affinity to Li+ with a separation factor of 1.022 ± 0.002 for 6Li/7Li in acetonitrile. The adsorption isotherms in acetonitrile is fitted well with the Langmuir model with an ultrahigh adsorption capacity up to 12.9 mg·g−1, indicating the unexpected complexation ratio of 1:2 between MCM-g-AB15C5 and Li+. The thermodynamics study confirmed the adsorption process is the endothermic, spontaneous, and chemisorption adsorption. As-prepared novel cellulose-based adsorbents are promising materials for the efficient and selective separation of Li+ and its isotopes.

Published in Molecules

ISSN: 1420-3049 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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