Nanofiltration Membrane Efficiency On Removal Of Neodymium Rare Earth Element

¹ Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
² Centre for Sustainability of Mineral and Resource Recovery Technology (SMaRRT), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.

^* Corresponding author: mazrul@umpsa.edu.my

Abstract

Neodymium (Nd), one of the rare earth elements (REEs), is essential to modern technologies like electronic devices, wind turbines, and electric motors. However, the uneven distribution of REE resources and the adverse environmental impacts of conventional extraction methods, including high energy consumption, substantial chemical use, and secondary waste generation, necessitate the exploration of alternative recovery strategies. This work investigates how well nanofiltration (NF) membrane remove neodymium from aqueous solutions, paying special attention to the effects of crucial operating parameters like pH (3, 5, 7, 9, and 11) and operating pressure (1-5 bar). The results indicated that the membrane performance was greatly impacted by both pH and pressure. The membrane exhibited the highest efficiency at highest operating pressure of 5 bar and pH 11 with highest rejection and flux. To improve performance and industrial viability while adhering to sustainability objectives, future research should investigate operational variables, long-term stability, and advanced materials.