Electrospun Membranes Modified with Lanmodulin-Derived\nPeptides for Lanthanide Adsorption

Rare earth elements (REEs) are crucial\nfor clean energy technologies\nbut are predominantly purified by solvent extraction using strong\nacids. This work explores two adsorbents with selective chemistry\nbased on lanmodulin-derived peptides. Two membrane adsorber platforms\nwere synthesized: (1) a poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) membrane with a\ngrafted poly(allyl methacrylate) network and (2) a poly(arylene ether\nsulfone) membrane with allyl pendant groups. Both membrane adsorbers\nwere functionalized with LanM1 peptides via a thiol–ene click\nreaction. The morphology, surface chemistry, and adsorption of select\ntrivalent lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr, Nd) were characterized in pH 4–5\nsolutions, mimicking phosphogypsum waste streams. Results from the\nadsorption experiments indicate that the lanmodulin peptide sequence\nmaintains its ability to bind when it is immobilized on the surface\nof polymer fibers for some ions. Despite the different adsorbent designs,\nthe measured capacity of both adsorbents is on the same order of magnitude,\nwhich may be explained by differences in the surface area of the fibers.