A method for extracting a rare earth metal from a mixture of one or more rare earth metals, said method comprising contacting an acidic solution of the rare earth metal with a composition which comprises an ionic liquid to form an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase into which the rare earth metal has been selectively extracted.

The invention discloses Method for whole component microwave fast digestion and precious metal extraction from ionic liquid of waste circuit board, and belongs to the field of hydrometallurgy. Based on the theory that microwaves can directly penetrate through a leaching medium to directly heat a circuit board, microwave-assisted leaching can reinforce mass transfer and heat transfer in the traditional leaching process, the leaching time is greatly shortened, and the leaching efficiency is improved. Before leaching, a waste circuit board does not need to be smashed, and environmental protection is achieved while energy is saved. The temperature rising process and reaction time of the reaction can be controlled, the whole process is conducted under the airtight condition, heat loss in the leaching process is avoided, the valuable leaching rate is high, the selectivity is high, and efficient leaching of valuable metal can be achieved. Precious metal leachate is extracted through imidazolium ionic liquid, the selectivity of the imidazolium ionic liquid to gold is high, and the co-extraction phenomenon of gold, nickel, copper and other ions is avoided. The method for extracting the precious metal leachate through ionic liquid is a green and clean recycling method, and the overall recycling rate of gold, nickel and copper can reach 99% or above.

The invention discloses Method for whole component microwave fast digestion and precious metal extraction from ionic liquid of waste circuit board, and belongs to the field of hydrometallurgy. Based on the theory that microwaves can directly penetrate through a leaching medium to directly heat a circuit board, microwave-assisted leaching can reinforce mass transfer and heat transfer in the traditional leaching process, the leaching time is greatly shortened, and the leaching efficiency is improved. Before leaching, a waste circuit board does not need to be smashed, and environmental protection is achieved while energy is saved. The temperature rising process and reaction time of the reaction can be controlled, the whole process is conducted under the airtight condition, heat loss in the leaching process is avoided, the valuable leaching rate is high, the selectivity is high, and efficient leaching of valuable metal can be achieved. Precious metal leachate is extracted through imidazolium ionic liquid, the selectivity of the imidazolium ionic liquid to gold is high, and the co-extraction phenomenon of gold, nickel, copper and other ions is avoided. The method for extracting the precious metal leachate through ionic liquid is a green and clean recycling method, and the overall recycling rate of gold, nickel and copper can reach 99% or above

A method for extracting a rare earth metal from a mixture of one or more rare earth metals, said method comprising contacting an acidic solution of the rare earth metal with a composition which comprises an ionic liquid to form an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase into which the rare earth metal has been selectively extracted.

Lanthanide complexing molecules having the following structure:

##STR00001## wherein: R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 are independently selected from hydrogen atom, alkyl groups containing 1-3 carbon atoms, and hydrophilic groups containing at least one oxygen atom; R.sup.3 and R.sup.6 are independently selected from hydrogen atom, alkyl groups containing 1-3 carbon atoms, and hydrophilic groups containing at least one oxygen atom; and R.sup.a and R.sup.b are independently selected from hydrogen atom, methyl group, halogen atoms, and hydrophilic groups containing at least one oxygen atom; wherein at least two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.a, and R.sup.b are said hydrophilic groups. Also described is a method of separating adjacent lanthanides by use of a two-phase extractant system that includes (i) an acidic aqueous solution containing the lanthanide complexing molecule (1) along with a mixture of at least two lanthanides, and (ii) an aqueous-insoluble hydrophobic solution containing a lipophilic lanthanide extractant compound.

A method for extracting a rare earth metal from a mixture of one or more rare earth metals, said method comprising contacting an acidic solution of the rare earth metal with a composition which comprises an ionic liquid to form an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase into which the rare earth metal has been selectively extracted.

Uses of cyclic amine monoamides for extracting uranium(VI) and/or plutonium(IV) from an acidic aqueous solution, as well as for totally or partially separating uranium(VI) from plutonium(IV) from an acidic aqueous solution. A method for treating an aqueous solution resulting from the dissolution of spent nuclear fuel in nitric acid to extract, separate and decontaminate uranium(VI) and plutonium(IV) in a single cycle and without resorting to any operation of reducing plutonium(IV), and wherein a cyclic amine monoamide or a mixture of cyclic amine monoamides is used as extractant. The cyclic amine monoamides have formula (I):

##STR00001##

A molecule enabling the selective recovery of gold, platinum, and palladium from an oxidative organic solution that also contains contaminants such as base metals, polymers, or other gangue material. The disclosed formula simultaneously eliminates multiple costly and hazardous steps of recovering such metals by using a single chemical comminution and solvent extraction process using dual organic phases. The resulting gold, platinum, and/or palladium-containing solution can be stripped to recover these elements and to regenerate the extractant for subsequent use.