AI Summary
This article discusses a new method for separating lanthanide elements, which are crucial for clean energy applications, in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. The technique involves combining two substances that do not mix to selectively separate specific lanthanides, potentially leading to reduced chemical usage and waste production.
Lanthanide elements are important for clean energy and other applications. To use them, industry must separate mixed lanthanide sources into individual elements using costly, time-consuming, and waste-generating procedures. An efficient new method can be tailored to select specific lanthanides. The technique combines two substances that do not mix and that prefer different types of lanthanides. The process would allow for smaller equipment, less use of chemicals, and less waste production.