Highly efficient enrichment and adsorption of rare earth ions (yttrium(III)) by recyclable magnetic nitrogen functionalized mesoporous expanded perlite

A magnetic mesoporous expanded perlite-based (EPd-APTES@Fe3O4) composite was designed and synthesized as a novel adsorbent for enrichment of yttrium(III) ions with the maximum adsorption capacity of 383.2 mg/g. FTIR, XPS and the quantum chemical calculation indicated that the yttrium(III) ions were captured on the EPd-APTES@Fe3O4surface mainly by coordination with functional group of -NH2.