Leaching Process of Cerium Extraction from Mixture of Cerite-Monazite Mineral

Rare earth oxides have been widely investigated in catalysis as structured and electronic promoters to improve the activity and thermal stability of catalysts. Cerium has an important role in three-way catalysis and fluid catalytic cracking, two significant catalytic processes by their economic relevance and tonnage. Cerium and other rare earths have been studied as possible heterogeneous catalysts at selective oxidation of hydrocarbons. Cerite and monazite are minerals with high concentration of cerium element. Extraction of cerium metal using conventional leaching processes has shown low yields or high costs. The main purpose of this research work is to optimize the parameters in cerium purification stage from this mineral using leaching process. To separate particles with different granulometries, the mineral is ground and fractioned with sieves of 80, 200, 250 and 400 mesh. In order to put off organic components and oxidize cerium(III) to cerium(IV), samples were roasted at 1073K by twenty-four hours. The roasted samples were solubilized by acid attack (leaching) for approximately twenty-four hours; according to the acid used hydrochloric or sulfuric), cerium and other trivalent elements are solubilized as chloride or sulfate solution. Cerium was extracted by selective precipitation at pH~3,4 using ammonium or natrium hydroxide as pH changer. After filtration and drying, the precipitated product was characterized by XRD (x-ray diffraction), and then process efficiency was determined (cerium percentage and the different phases in the powder). Particles granulometry, roasting process (time and temperature), as well as leaching parameters (acid used, time, temperature and concentration of reagents) were the main variables studied.