Study on separation of rare earth elements in complex system

The effect of the feed acidity, acetic acid concentration and rare earth concentration on the distribution ratio, separation coefficient and extraction capacity of light rare earth elements were studied in the P204(DEHPA)-HCl system and P507(HEH/EHP)-HCl system both containing acetic acid, respectively. The results showed that the distribution ratio and separation coefficient decreased with increasing of acidity, and increased with increasing of acetic acid concentration and rare earths concentration, and the extraction capacity increased with increasing of acetic acid concentration. When pH value of feed was 2.0, [RE]/[acetic acid] was 1:1 and rare earth concentration 0.35 mol/L, in P204(DEHPA)- HCl system with acetic acid, the maximum separation coefficient(β) reached to βCe /La=4.09, βPr/Ce=1.96 and βNd/Pr=1.53, and the separation ability of this extraction system was better than P507(DEHPA)-HCl system.