ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Efficient sorption of lanthanum and praseodymium ions from aqueous solutions using gelatin/montmorillonite/copper molybdate composite

A. El-Tantawy, Sh. F. Abo Zahra, and M. A. Sayed

Nuclear Fuel Technology Department, Hot Laboratories and Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt

E-mail: aml90_eg@yahoo.com

Received: 4 July 2025  Accepted: 6 October 2025

Abstract:

In the context of a circular economy, rare earth elements (REEs) are indispensable due to their pivotal applications including electronic devices, high-strength, long-lasting magnets, green energy, lasers, vehicle catalytic converters, fiber superconductors/optics, etc. A novel eco-friendly gelatin-montmorillonite-copper molybdate G-M-CuMo composite has been synthesized through a homogeneous precipitation method, demonstrating significant potential for the effective sorption of lanthanum and praseodymium from aqueous solutions. The as-synthesized G-M-CuMo composite has been comprehensively characterized using different analytical methods, such as: FTIR, XRD, TGA-DTA, EDX and SEM. Introducing gelatin and montmorillonite into copper molybdate can provide more functional groups and active sites for binding La³⁺ and Pr³⁺ ions. The influence of various factors on the adsorption efficiency such as contact time, solution pH, adsorbent dose, temperature and initial ions concentrations were also investigated. The results indicate that G-M-CuMo composite exhibits adsorption efficiencies of 93.52% and 88.65% for La(III) and Pr(III) ions, respectively, at a pH of 3, with an initial concentration of 100 mg/L and a volume-to-mass ratio of 100, over a duration of 4 h at room temperature. Moreover, the sorption process aligns more closely with the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. The desorption of lanthanum and praseodymium from loaded G-M-CuMo composite is performed by different eluants. The results derived from the thermodynamic analyses indicate that the sorption of La(III) and Pr(III) onto G-M-CuMo composite is characterized as a spontaneous and endothermic process. Ultimately, G-M-CuMo composite can be applied as a promising candidate for preconcentration and separation of some lanthanides from monazite solutions.

Keywords: Gelatin; Montmorillonite; Copper molybdate; Sorption; Rare earth elements

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04439-0

Chemical Papers 80 (1) 923–957 (2026)