A1 Journal article (refereed)
Recycling rare earth metals from luminescent fibers by solvent extraction (2025)

Szczeszak, A., Agarwal, A., Torrent, L., Schuler, A. J., Grzyb, T., Przybylska, D., Ludwig, C., & Patil, A. B. (2025). Recycling rare earth metals from luminescent fibers by solvent extraction. Resources, Conservation & Recycling advances, Early online, Article 200251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200251

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Szczeszak, Agata; Agarwal, Ayush; Torrent, Laura; Schuler, Albert J.; Grzyb, Tomasz; Przybylska, Dominika; Ludwig, Christian; Patil, Ajay B.

Journal or series: Resources, Conservation & Recycling advances

eISSN: 2667-3789

Publication year: 2025

Publication date: 06/02/2025

Volume: Early online

Article number: 200251

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200251

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Abstract

Rare earth elements (REEs) are known for their specialized optical and electronic properties that have led to their use in a wide range of applications, such as luminescent fibers employed in security papers (e.g., bank notes). Most of the security documents are disposed at the end of their life, losing the raw materials. Considering REEs are listed as critical raw materials, adoption of sustainable recycling and circular economy practices are imperative for ensuring supply chains in the future and aligning with United Nations sustainable development goals. In this contribution, a recycling method consisting of leaching and solvent extraction-based separation for recovering REEs from luminescent fibers is presented. An optimization of the separation method for extracting the metals of interest (Er, Y, La, Gd, Yb, Ho, Tm, Tb, and Eu) was carried out by assessing selective extractants (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) and N-methyl-N,N,N-trioctylammonium chloride (Al336)), the ligand concentration and the acid concentrations. The former showed high selectivity and extractive performance for most of the heavy REEs (>95%) by using the HDEHP ligand (1.0 mol/L) and adjusting the acid concentration of the aqueous solution at 0.01 mol/L with hydrochloric acid. The developed extractive metallurgy process was applied to doped REE cellulose fibers after performing a digestion, showing impressive extraction profiles in most cases (>80%). The solvent separation method presented in this work can be employed for other classes of doped fibers after a proper optimization process and can make security fiber industry circular with its resources use.

Keywords: material flows; rare earth metals; optical fibres; recycling; circular economy; sustainable development; green chemistry

Free keywords: circular economy; sustainability; security materials; doped fibers; rare earths; recycling; resource management

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2025

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1