Synthesis of highly deficient nano SrCoOx for the purification of lanthanides from monazite concentrate

Highly deficient strontium cobaltite (SrCoOx), as a new nanomaterial that is thermally treated at low temperature (400–500 °C), is prepared using facile green method. The different prepared powders are characterized using X-ray diffraction method for phase identification, Fourier transform infrared for functional group identification, differential thermal analysis–thermogravimetry for thermal analysis, electron spin resonance for oxygen vacancies evaluation, BET method for specific surface area and pore size distribution measurements and high resolution transmission electron microscope for microstructure analysis. The effectiveness of oxygen vacancies is followed to improve the adsorptive properties of the studied materials. The prepared materials are effective for the selective separation of industrial and nuclear elements (Th, Fe). The results reveal that a novel SrCoOx nanomaterial is promising for the purification and production of lanthanides from monazite ore processing.