A microfluidic study of synergic liquid-liquid extraction of rare earth elements.

A microfluidic technique is coupled with X-ray fluorescence in order to investigate the origin of the so-called synergy effect observed in liquid-liquid extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) when special combinations of two extractants - one solvating and one ionic - are used. The setup enables kinetic studies by varying the two phases' contact time. The results obtained are compared with those obtained using a standard batch extraction method at identical contact time.