Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Solvent Extraction of Rare Earth Elements from a Nitric Acid Leach Solution of Apatite by Mixtures of Tributyl Phosphate and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phosphoric Acid

  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Solvent extraction of rare earths from nitrate leach liquor of apatite using mixtures of tributyl phosphate (TBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) was studied. The effects of nitrate and hydrogen ion concentration of the aqueous phase as well as the composition and concentration of extractants in the organic phase on the extraction behavior of lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, and yttrium were investigated. The distribution ratio of REEs increases by increasing the nitrate concentration in aqueous phase and concentration of extractants in organic phase, but the hydrogen ion concentration in aqueous phase has a decreasing effect. Yttrium as a heavy rare earth is more sensitive to these parameters than light rare earth elements. Although the composition of organic phase has a minor effect on the extraction of light rare earths, the percent of extraction of yttrium decreases dramatically by increasing the TBP content of organic phase. Mixtures of TBP and D2EHPA can show either synergism or antagonism extraction depending on the concentration and composition of extractants in organic phase. The best condition for separating rare earth elements in groups of heavy and light REEs can be achieved at high nitrate concentration, low H+ concentration, and high concentration of D2EHPA in organic phase. Separation of Ce and La by TBP and D2EHPA is practically impossible in the studied conditions; however, low nitrate concentration and high hydrogen ion concentration in aqueous phase and low concentration of extractants in organic phase favor the separation of Nd from other light rare earth elements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. H. Li, F. Guo, Z. Zhang, D. Li, and Z. Wang: J. Alloys Compd., 2006, vol. 408–412, pp. 995–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. A.M.T.S. Bandara and G. Senanayake: Hydrometallurgy, 2015, vol. 153, pp. 179–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. C.K. Gupta and N. Krishnamurthy: Extractive Metallurgy of Rare Earths, CRC Press, New York, 2004.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. F. Habashi: J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol. Chem. Technol., 2007, vol. 35, pp. 5–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. H.F. Aly, M.M. Ali, M.H. Taha, A.E. Authorityi, and E. Maddi: Arab. J. Nucl. Sci. Appl., 2013, vol. 46, pp. 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  6. E. Jorjani, A.H. Bagherieh, and S.C. Chelgani: Korean J. Chem. Eng., 2011, vol. 28, pp. 557–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. M.M. Aly and N.A. Mohammed: Hydrometallurgy, 1999, vol. 52, pp. 199–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. V.I. Kuzmin, G.L. Pashkov, V.G. Lomaev, E.N. Voskresenskaya, and V.N. Kuzmina: Hydrometallurgy, 2012, vol. 129–130, pp. 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Kumari, R. Panda, M.K. Jha, J.R. Kumar, and J.Y. Lee: Miner. Eng., 2015, vol. 79, pp. 102–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. F. Xie, T.A. Zhang, D. Dreisinger, and F. Doyle: Miner. Eng., 2014, vol. 56, pp. 10–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. J.S. Preston, P.M. Cole, W.M. Craig, and A.M. Feather: Hydrometallurgy, 1996, vol. 41, pp. 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. M.K. Jha, A. Kumari, R. Panda, J. Rajesh Kumar, K. Yoo, and J.Y. Lee: Hydrometallurgy, 2016, vol. 165, pp. 2–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. M. Majdan: Hydrometallurgy, 1994, vol. 35, pp. 179–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. E. Jorjani and M. Shahbazi: Arab. J. Chem., 2016, vol. 9, pp. S1532–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. A. Geist, W. Nitsch, and J. Kim: Chem. Eng. Sci., 1999, vol. 54, pp. 1903–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. T. Sato: Hydrometallurgy, 1989, vol. 22, pp. 121–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. C. A. Morais and V.S.T. Ciminelli: Hydrometallurgy, 2004, vol. 73, pp. 237–44.

  18. S. Yin, W. Wu, B. Zhang, F. Zhang, Y. Luo, S. Li, and X. Bian: J. Rare Earths, 2010, vol. 28, pp. 111–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. M.T. Khaironie, M. Masturah, M.S. Meor Yusoff, and S. Nazaratul Ashifa: Adv. Mater. Res., 2014, vol. 970, pp. 209–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. K.A. Rabie: Hydrometallurgy, 2007, vol. 85, pp. 81–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. J.S. Preston, P.M. Cole, A.C. du Preez, M.H. Fox, and A.M. Fleming: Hydrometallurgy, 1996, vol. 41, pp. 21–44.

  22. L.E.O.C. Rodrigues and M.B. Mansur: J. Power Sources, 2010, vol. 195, pp. 3735–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. P. Pelarut and N. Bumi: J. Kejuruter., 2015, vol. 27, pp. 57–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. H.T. Huynh and M. Tanaka: Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2003, vol. 42, pp. 4050–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. K. Sahu and R. Das: Metall. Mater. Trans. B, 1997, vol. 28B, pp. 181–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. J.R. Goode: Can. Metall. Q., 2013, vol. 52, pp. 234–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. V. Jedináková, P. Vaňura, J. Žilková, V. Bílek, and F. Touati: J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 1992, vol. 162, pp. 267–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. J. Kraikaew, W. Srinuttrakul, and C. Chayavadhanakur: J. Met. Mater. Miner., 2005, vol. 15, pp. 89–95.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Z. Kolařík: J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem., 1972, vol. 34, pp. 2911–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. L. Wang, Z. Long, X. Huang, Y. Yu, D. Cui, and G. Zhang: Hydrometallurgy, 2010, vol. 101, pp. 41–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. A.T. Kandil and K. Farah: J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem., 1980, vol. 42, pp. 277–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. E. Jorjani, A.H.A. Bagherieh, and B. Rezai: Iran. J. Chem. Chem. Eng., 2007, vol. 26, pp. 11–8.

    Google Scholar 

  33. N. V. Thakur: Miner. Process. Extr. Metall. Rev., 2000, vol. 21, pp. 277–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. G. Li, L. Li, R. Miao, W. Tian, S. Yan, and X. Li: Vacuum, 2016, vol. 125, pp. 21–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. G.X. Xu, W.Q. Wang, J.G. Wu, B.L. Li, G.B. Wu, and N. Shi: At. Energy Sci. Technol., 1963, vol. 7, pp. 487–508.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave, Tehran, PO Box 11155-9466, Iran

    Ali Ferdowsi & Hossein Yoozbashizadeh

Authors
  1. Ali Ferdowsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hossein Yoozbashizadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Ferdowsi.

Additional information

Manuscript submitted November 16, 2016.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ferdowsi, A., Yoozbashizadeh, H. Solvent Extraction of Rare Earth Elements from a Nitric Acid Leach Solution of Apatite by Mixtures of Tributyl Phosphate and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phosphoric Acid. Metall Mater Trans B 48, 3380–3387 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-017-1086-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-017-1086-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation