A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Separating critical elements from NdFeB magnets with aminophosphonic acid functionalised 3D printed filters and their detailed structural characterisation




AuthorsVirtanen, Emilia J.; Yliharju, Janne; Kukkonen, Esa; Christiansen, Tia; Hulkko, Eero; Tuomisto, Minnea; Miettinen, Arttu; Lastusaari, Mika; Vaisanen, Ari; Moilanen, Jani O.

PublisherRoyal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Publication year2026

Journal: Journal of Materials Chemistry A

ISSN2050-7488

eISSN2050-7496

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1039/d5ta09708h

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1039/d5ta09708h

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/523248893

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF


Abstract

3D printed filters containing 70 wt% of polyamide (PA) nylon-12 as a polymer matrix and either 30 wt% of a commercial aminophosphonic acid functionalised resin (Lewatit TP260) or a synthesized aminobisphosphonic acid (1) as an additive were manufactured via selective laser sintering and investigated for the separation of elements from a NdFeB magnet waste. Prior to separation studies, the magnet was leached with 10 v/v% methanesulfonic acid using an S/L ratio of 5 g l-1 for 20 h at 60 degrees C. The PA-TP260 filters adsorbed rare earth elements (REEs) more efficiently than transition and main group elements and showed greater uptake than the PA-1 filters at the studied pH range of 0.15-4.00. Thus, the PA-TP260 filters were selected for the separation process, wherein Fe was first selectively precipitated from the leachate, while solid-phase extraction was used to separate the remaining elements from the leachate to four distinct fractions: REEs; B, Co; Al; and Cu. Neither significant decrease in the adsorption and desorption percentages of the PA-TP260 filters over 50 adsorption-desorption cycles, nor structural changes, as confirmed by the X-ray tomography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies, were observed. Overall, the results demonstrate that highly porous and reusable 3D printed filters efficiently separate critical elements from the NdFeB magnet leachate using only eco-friendly solutions of MSA, ammonium chloride, and potassium oxalate, paving the way for greener separation processes for these -critical elements.


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Funding information in the publication
We thank the University of Jyvaskyla, the Research Council of Finland (project 338733), the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation and Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation for their financial support. The authors also thank Lanxess for providing Lewatit TP260 for us


Last updated on 11/05/2026 08:35:58 AM