Assessing the Efficiency of Ion Exchange Resins for the Recovery of Scandium from Sulfuric Acid Leaching Solutions

Scandium, a valuable element with restricted production sources mainly situated in China and Russia, is typically obtained as by-product during the of various materials. As demand for scandium grows expanding aluminum fuel cell industries, significant investments rare earth mining USA Australia, there need to explore alternative recovery sources. This research investigates from an acid pregnant leaching solution using ion exchange resins. The was after bauxite residue sulfuric acid. Commercial resins different functional groups were tested their performance extraction. In addition, co-adsorption impurities, such iron titanium, studied. feed consisted 12.7 mg/L Sc main impurities 272 Fe 33.6 Ti pretreated before process by acidification powder addition suppress silica gel formation minimize Fe(III) content accordingly. Among resins, D2EHPA-impregnated resin had high selectivity towards Ti, while monophosphonic also promising option since it higher capacity but co-extracted Ti. These findings offer opportunities solutions could contribute addressing growing this element.