Separation of rare earths in chloride media by synergistic solvent extraction with mixture of HEHAMP and CA12 and stripping with HCl

The synergistic extraction of rare earths (REs) from chloride media by a mixture two extractants 2-ethylhexylaminomethyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (HEHAMP, HA) and sec-octylphenoxy acetic (CA12, HB) was investigated. A remarkable positive effect observed at the molar ratio HEHAMP to CA12 being 2:3. REs found be cation exchange process extracted species Yb3+ determined as YbCl2HAB. separation factors (SF) adjacent heavy REs, i.e. SFYb/Tm SFLu/Yb, for mixtures were 2.50 1.63, which much higher than those sole system. In additional, values SFYb/Y SFLu/Y 7.17 11.14, respectively, other reported systems HEHAEP or system, suggesting that is potential system and/or Y(III) REs. cascade yttrium-enriched feed using developed, are superior Y2O3 product with purity 99.4% obtained 8 stages 5 scrubbing stages.