A perspective on task-specific ionic liquids for the separation of rare earth elements

Abstract

Rare earth elements (REEs) play essential roles in various technological applications. With the demand for these materials increasing globally, numerous efforts have been put into the separation and recovery of REEs. Liquid–liquid extraction is one of the most studied methods for separating and recycling these elements, with ionic liquids (ILs) having been proven as effective extraction solvents. This review looks at recent progress in solvent extraction systems using task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) as extractants for REE separation.