Selective extraction of thorium from rare earth elements using natural amphiphilic polyphenols at the air-aqueous interface

Yongming Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.desal.2026.120649

Selective extraction of thorium from rare earth elements using natural amphiphilic polyphenols at the air-aqueous interface

2026-08-07

0

PRE

AI

Y

Yongming Zhao

W

Wenlong Sun

P

Pengfei Shi

B

Boxiao Wang

X

Xufeng Chen

Y

Y. X. Hao

Z

Zhanglian Xu *

DOI：10.1016/j.desal.2026.120649

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• We propose a novel strategy for gas–liquid interface extraction in an all-aqueous system, utilizing the naturally amphiphilic polyphenol gossypol (GP) to achieve highly selective separation of thorium. The process requires no organic solvents and is simple to operate. • The gas-liquid interface significantly enhances the extraction performance of GP, with a distribution coefficient for thorium(IV) reaching 3.14 × 105 mL g−1, which is approximately three times that of conventional liquid-liquid extraction. • The system can reduce thorium concentrations from the ppm to the ppb range, maintaining high selectivity across a wide pH range and in the presence of complex ions, thereby meeting discharge limits. • This system is highly recyclable; spent adsorbents can be calcined to directly produce high-purity ThO2, thereby establishing a green pathway for the closed-loop utilization of thorium resources.

Keywords:

Thorium

Rare earth elements

Selective extraction

Gossypol

Air-aqueous interface

Selective extraction of thorium from rare earth elements using natural amphiphilic polyphenols at the air-aqueous interface

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