Two-Step Solvent Extraction of Radioactive Elements and Rare Earths from Estonian Phosphorite Ore Using Nitrated Aliquat 336 and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phosphate

Estonian phosphorite ore contains trace amounts of rare earth elements (REEs), many other d-metals, and some radioactive elements. Rare earth elements, Mo, V, etc. might be economically exploitable, while some radioactive and toxic elements should be removed before any other downstream processing for environmental and nutritional safety reasons. All untreated hazardous elements remain in landfilled waste in much higher concentration than they occur naturally. To resolve this problem U, Th, and Tl were removed from phosphorite ore at first using liquid extraction. In the next step, REE were isolated from raffinate. Nitrated Aliquat 336 (A336[NO3]) and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phosphate (D2EHPA) were used in liquid extraction for comparison. An improved method for exclusive separation of radioactive elements and REEs from phosphorite ore in 2-steps has been developed, exploiting liquid extraction at different pH values.

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Penentuan Kondisi Optimum Proses Ekstraksi Uranium dan Torium dari Terak II Timah dengan Metode Pelindian Asam Sulfat dan Solvent Extraction Trioctylamine (TOA)

EKSPLORIUM ◽

10.17146/eksplorium.2019.40.1.5378 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 11

Author(s):

Mutia Anggraini ◽

Fuad Wafa Nawawi ◽

Kurnia Setiawan Widana

Keyword(s):

Rare Earth ◽

Solvent Extraction ◽

Rare Earth Elements ◽

Organic Phase ◽

Mixing Time ◽

Economic Value ◽

Extraction Process ◽

Radioactive Elements ◽

Tin Slag ◽

Slag Processing

ABSTRAKTerak II timah merupakan produk hasil samping dari peleburan timah tahap kedua. Terak II timah ini mengandung unsur bernilai ekonomi tinggi berupa unsur radioaktif (uranium dan torium) dan logam tanah jarang (rare earth element). Unsur-unsur tersebut dapat dimanfaatkan apabila telah terpisah satu dengan lainnya. Proses pemisahan unsur radioaktif dan unsur logam tanah jarang telah dilakukan dengan metode pelindian asam sulfat. Hasil proses ini adalah endapan yang mengandung logam tanah jarang dan filtrat yang mengandung unsur radioaktif berupa uranium dan torium sulfat. Penelitian terkait pemisahan uranium dan torium hasil pengolahan terak II timah hanya sedikit dipublikasikan. Paper ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektifitas proses pemisahan uranium dan torium dengan metode solvent extraction menggunakan trioctylamine (TOA). Proses solvent extraction dilakukan dengan memvariasikan konsentrasi TOA yang digunakan, perbandingan fase aqueous dan fase organik (A/O) dan variasi waktu ekstraksi. Pada penelitian ini diperoleh kondisi optimum proses yaitu konsentrasi TOA 4%, perbandingan A/O 1 : 1, dan waktu pencampuran aqueous dan organik selama 2 menit. Pada kondisi ini uranium dan torium yang terekstrak masing-masing sebanyak 67% dan 0,84%. ABSTRACTTin slag II is a by-product of the second stage of tin smelting. The tin slag II contains high economic value elements in the form of radioactive elements (uranium and thorium) and rare earth elements. These elements can be utilized if they are separated from each other. The process of separating radioactive elements and rare earth elements has been carried out by leaching sulfuric acid method. The results of this process are residue containing rare earth elements and filtrates containing radioactive elements in the form of uranium and thorium sulfate. Research related to the separation of uranium and thorium sulfate in tin slag processing is only slightly published. This paper aims to determine the effectiveness of the uranium and thorium separating process by the solvent extraction method using trioctylamine (TOA). The solvent extraction process is carried out by varying the concentration of TOA used, comparison of the aqueous and organic phase (A/O) and variations in extraction time. In this study, the optimum conditions for the process were obtained at 4% of TOA concentration, 1 : 1 of A/O ratio, and mixing time of aqueous and organic phase for 2 minutes. In this condition, uranium and thorium which extracted were 67% and 0.84% respectively.

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Study on the Effect and Mechanism of Impurity Aluminum on the Solvent Extraction of Rare Earth Elements (Nd, Pr, La) by P204-P350 in Chloride Solution

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min11010061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 61

Author(s):

Wenjie Zhang ◽

Xian Xie ◽

Xiong Tong ◽

Yunpeng Du ◽

Qiang Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rare Earth ◽

Solvent Extraction ◽

Rare Earth Elements ◽

Organic Phase ◽

Extraction Process ◽

Industrial Applications ◽

Separation And Purification ◽

Aluminum Ion ◽

Hydrochloric Acid Medium ◽

Impurity Ion

Solvent extraction is the most widely used method for separation and purification of rare earth elements, and organic extractants such as di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (P204) and di(1-methyl-heptyl) methyl phosphonate (P350) are most commonly used for industrial applications. However, the presence of impurity ions in the feed liquid during extraction can easily emulsify the extractant and affect the quality of rare earth products. Aluminum ion is the most common impurity ion in the feed liquid, and it is an important cause of emulsification of the extractant. In this study, the influence of aluminum ion was investigated on the extraction of light rare earth elements by the P204-P350 system in hydrochloric acid medium. The results show that Al3+ competes with light rare earths in the extraction process, reducing the overall extraction rate. In addition, the Al3+ stripping rate is low and there is continuous accumulation of Al3+ in the organic phase during the stripping process, affecting the extraction efficiency and even causing emulsification. The slope method and infrared detection were utilized to explore the formation of an extraction compound of Al3+ and the extractant P204-P350 that entered the organic phase as AlCl[(HA)2]2P350(o).

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