Solvent Extraction of Light Rare Earth ions Using D2EHPA from Nitric Acid and Sulphuric Acid Solutions

摘要

A study on solvent extraction of a mixture of light rare earths ions (La(III), Nd(III) and Ce(IV)) from nitric and sulphuric acid solutions with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) in kerosene as an extractant has been carried out. The influences of D2EHPA and acid concentrations on the extraction efficiency of rare earth metal ions were evaluated. It was found that the extraction percentage of La, Nd and Ce decreased as the acids concentrations increased. On the contrary, the extraction efficiency of these ions increased as D2EHPA concentration increased. The utmost extraction percentage of La, Nd and Ce (99.4%, 99.7% and 100% respectively) was extracted from 0.1 M HNO3 using 1.0 M D2EHPA. The order of extraction ability of the studied rare earth elements by D2EHPA decreased in the series of Ce(IV)>Nd(III)>La(III).