Extraction and separation studies of rare earth elements using Cyanex 272 impregnated Amberlite XAD-7 resin

As a part of technological evaluation of Eskisehir-Beylikahir thorium-Rare Earth Elements (REEs) ore of Turkey, a novel study investigating the extraction behaviours of light REEs for Cyanex 272 impregnated Amberlite XAD-7 resin was carried out. Solvent impregnated resin (SIR) was prepared by the impregnation of kerosene diluted Cyanex 272 onto Amberlite XAD-7 resin. SIR was characterized by FTIR, SEM, TGA-DSC, surface area and porosity analyses. The usability of Cyanex 272 impregnated XAD-7 for the extraction of La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd from nitric acid solution was investigated by batch experiments. Parameters affecting the uptake of these metal ions such as pH, contact time and liquid/solid (V/m) ratio were studied. Experimental data indicated that REEs have a tendency to behave as two separate groups as La, Pr, Nd and Sm, Eu, Gd. Light elements are being displaced by the heavier elements as they load up. Kinetic data fit the pseudo second order model for each element and the capacity values at the equilibrium were obtained as 11.1, 0.56, 1.69, 0.75, 0.10 and 0.25 mg g−1 for La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd, respectively. Complete stripping of Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Gd(III) and 95.1% of Eu(III) ions were achieved by using 0.1 mol L−1 HNO3 in one stage batch contact.