Lanthanide separation using size-selective crystallization of Ln-MOFs

Abstract

Herein, we report an elaborate method, size-selective crystallization of Ln-MOFs, to isolate lanthanide (Ln) ions. Herein, 13 lanthanide ions, except for the radioactive Pm(III) ion, were separated by four types of Ln-MOFs: type I (La–Pr), type II (Nd–Eu), type III (Gd–Ho), and type IV (Er–Lu). Further systemic investigation also suggested the highly selective separation of lanthanide ions by this method.