Covalent organic framework for highly efficient extraction of rare earth ions

Rare earth extraction with high selectivity and uptake remains a challenge. In a recent research article published in Nature Chemistry, Zhu et al. prepared metal-imprinted covalent organic frameworks (MICOFs) for scandium (Ⅲ) extraction with the uptake of 52.7 mg g⁻¹ and selectivity coefficients ranging from 1.43×10⁴ (Sc³⁺/K⁺) to 1.43×10⁴ (Sc³⁺/Fe²⁺) that exceeded most of the reported scandium (Ⅲ) adsorbents. These findings highlight the potential of COF materials in the extraction of rare earth ions.