Leaching of rare earths from Abu Tartur (Egypt) phosphate rock with phosphoric acid

Abstract The leaching of rare earth elements (REEs) from Egyptian Abu Tartur phosphate rock using phosphoric acid has been examined and was subsequently optimized to better understand if such an approach could be industrially feasible. Preliminary experiments were performed properly define the design experiments. Afterward, 2 4 full factorial implemented optimize process. Optimum REEs efficiency (96.7 ± 0.9%) reached with following conditions: concentration 30 wt.-% P O 5 , liquid/solid ratio, mL/g, 5:1, at 20 °C, 120 min time. apparent activation energy dissolution solution -19.6 kJ/mol. D2EHPA applied as organic solvent for separation acquired leach liquor. stripping precipitation conducted, finally, oxides a purity 88.4% obtained. liquor further treated concentrated sulfuric recover used produce gypsum >95% same A flow diagram this innovative cleaner production process developed, larger-scale are proposed promising comprehensive processing.