Green Processing of Strategic Elements Based on Magnetic Nanohydrometallurgy

Magnetic nanohydrometallurgy (NHM) is a new process based on engineered superparamagnetic nanoparticles capable of performing as complexing agents for extracting and recovering strategic metals from mineral sources and urban wastes, as well as for removing hazardous elements from contaminated water. Its principles and application are reviewed in this paper. Typical examples involving copper, silver and mercury processing are here discussed, including the exploitation of a novel nanotechnological strategy for capturing and fractionating rare earth elements.

Keywords:
magnetic nanohydrometallurgy; strategic elements; lanthanides; elemental sustainability; green chemistry

Authorship

Ulisses Condomitti

Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, BrazilUniversidade de São PauloBrazilSão Paulo, SP, BrazilInstituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil

Ulisses Condomitti holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of São Paulo. His major interests are nanotechnology, magnetoelectrochemistry and nanohydrometallurgy.

Sabrina N. Almeida

Sabrina da Nóbrega Almeida is pursuing her PhD in Chemistry at the University of São Paulo. Her major interests are nanohydrometallurgy and rare-earth recovery using superparamagnetic nanoparticles.

Alceu T. Silveira Jr.

Alceu Totti Silveira Jr. holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of São Paulo. His major interests are Green Chemistry and Nanotechnological strategies for water treatment based on magnetic nanoparticles.

Fernando M. de Melo

Fernando Menegatti de Melo is pursuing his PhD in Chemistry at the University of São Paulo. His major interests are on magnetic nanoparticles and quantum dots for industrial applications.

Henrique E. Toma ^**e-mail: henetoma@iq.usp.br

Henrique Eisi Toma holds a PhD in Chemistry and is Professor at the University of São Paulo. He is Guggenheim Fellow, Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, TWAS and Grã-Cruz of the National Science Order. His major interests are Inorganic, Bioinorganic, Supramolecular Chemistry and Molecular Nanotechnology.

*e-mail: henetoma@iq.usp.br

Ulisses Condomitti holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of São Paulo. His major interests are nanotechnology, magnetoelectrochemistry and nanohydrometallurgy.

Sabrina da Nóbrega Almeida is pursuing her PhD in Chemistry at the University of São Paulo. Her major interests are nanohydrometallurgy and rare-earth recovery using superparamagnetic nanoparticles.

Alceu Totti Silveira Jr. holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of São Paulo. His major interests are Green Chemistry and Nanotechnological strategies for water treatment based on magnetic nanoparticles.

Fernando Menegatti de Melo is pursuing his PhD in Chemistry at the University of São Paulo. His major interests are on magnetic nanoparticles and quantum dots for industrial applications.

Henrique Eisi Toma holds a PhD in Chemistry and is Professor at the University of São Paulo. He is Guggenheim Fellow, Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, TWAS and Grã-Cruz of the National Science Order. His major interests are Inorganic, Bioinorganic, Supramolecular Chemistry and Molecular Nanotechnology.

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