Distribution coefficients of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm on Cyanex 923-, D2EHPA-, and PC88A-impregnated resins

Distribution coefficients of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm on solvent-impregnated resins were determined in hydrochloric acid media for the purpose of La purification. Trialkylphosphine (Cyanex 923), 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC88A), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) were used as the extractant for the solvent-impregnated resin in the present work. Separation factors were also obtained in order to estimate the potential for the separation of Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm from La. We found that the extraction mechanism by which the solvent-impregnated resin works is similar to that of solvent extraction. Separation factors between La and the other light rare earth elements and a high sorption rate indicated that the D2EHPA-impregnated resin is the best adsorbent for purification of La among the three tested solvent-impregnated resins.