Rare earths: catalysts, UV filters, recovery and MOFS/LOFS: Synthetic Procedures and potential aplications.

Abstract

The Rare Earths (RE), which have been a topic of research and of personal satisfaction for more than 55 years (ORQUIMA, 1961), are present in almost all activities of everyday life. This project consist in four of their more relevant subjects in development at the Rare Earths Laboratory (LTR). We search the evolution of the synthetic procedures, characterization and potencial applications of materials containing rare earths. The focus on these materials will be the catalysis, absorption (UV,IR) and emission (VIS) of light and the gas adsorption. We also continue the recovery process of rare earths from the exhausted materials as oil catalysts and fluorescent lamps. This project is part of the RECOLA (Recovery Lanthanides - UE program FP7- http://recola.fbk.eu/home ) with the participation of several countries: Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Peru; Poland; supported by local agencies, in Brazil by FAPESP, responsible Prof. Sidney J.L. Ribeiro da UNESP. Recent results in our research group demonstrated the efficiency of CeO2 supported in cordierite as catalyst in reduction of soot emission. In additon to the cordierite as support for catalysts containing cerium and additional metals, other materials as mesoporous silicas will be study. Cerium based materials present less photocatalytic activity than Ti and Zn oxides, actually used for UV radiation protection. Their high absorption in the UV region make them suitable for solar filters in several applications. Therefore, is fundamental the improvement in the synthetic procedures to obtain cerium phosphate nanoparticles miscible in formulations. Recently, in colaboration with the Warwick University (Prof. R. I. Walton), the LTR initiate the study of supramolecular materials known as MOFs (Metal Organic Frameworks) with rare earths. We call them LOFs (Lanthanoid Organic Frameworks). They are usually sinthesized by solvothermal process and own peculiar properties as phosphors, catalysts and gas adsorbers. New ligands will be synthesize to obtain LOFs with specific applications (AU)