Separation and mass transport of Nd(III) from mixed rare earths via hollow fiber supported liquid membrane: Experiment and modeling

• HFSLM can successfully extract and strip Nd(III) from nitric acid solution.
• A high percentage of extraction was obtained reaching 95%.
• A high percentage of stripping was obtained reaching 87%.
• The mathematical model for separation was based on the conservation of mass.
• Average deviation for feed and stripping predictions were 1.9% and 1.2%.

The separation of Nd(III) from mixed rare earths via hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) was examined. Percentages of extraction and stripping of Nd(III) attained were 95% and 87%, respectively. Optimum condition was achieved using 4.5 pH of feed solution, 0.5 M 2-ethylhexyl-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (HEHEPA) dissolved in octane as the extractant and 4 M HNO3 of stripping solution. The flow rates of both feed and stripping phase were 100 mL/min. The mathematical model was developed on the conservation of mass which consisted of convection, diffusion, reaction and accumulation. The model results prediction proved to be in good agreement with the experimental data at an average standard deviation of 1.9% and 1.2%, respectively.

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