研究実績の概要 |
This work aims to develop a new surfactant system for the extraction and separation of rare earth elements and/or platinum group metals using the ion foam flotation process. For this purpose, synthesis and characterisation of a new malonamide polyethoxylated surfactant is consider. For the synthesis, two main routes are planned: (i) esterification between the polyethoxylated carboxylic acid surfactant AKYPO LS-O90 and the N(1), N(3)-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)malonamide, and (ii) alkylation between malonamide molecule and the polyethoxylated alcohol surfactant BrijO10 (or Brij S10). Reactants have been ordered and received, and the characterisation of surfactants were performed in term of purity, pKa and micelle surface charge. Additional synthesis routes are being consider in order to reduce reactant cost and synthesis steps. For the characterisation of the process in term of flotation efficiency and microstructure through SANS and NR analyses, dedicated columns (and flowmter) were designed, ordered and received. Technical feasibility of SANS experiments on foam with the new column has been demonstrated with a model surfactant system. NR measurement on malonamide standard systems has been performed at J-PARC, MLF, as a preliminary experiment and had demonstrated the feasibility of analysing liquid-air interfaces. Finally, these preliminary analyses allowed redacting and submitting two articles in peer reviewed journal.
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今後の研究の推進方策 |
Future work will focus on the synthesis of the surfactant system and its characterisation (purity, pKa, cmc, foaming properties). NR experiments on surfactant systems (Akypo LS-O90 and Brij O10) are planned from at J-PARC and will give basic data for the analysis of the new surfactant system after its synthesis. Business trip at ICSM (France) is planned during June, for surface tension measurement and foam analysis of the new surfactant system.
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