Comparative study of the mutual separation characteristics for binary mixed oxides Er2O3-Ln2O3 (Ln = Sc, Y, La, Nd, Sm, Gd and Ho) mediated by vapor complexes KLnCl4

Mutual separation characteristics for a series of rare earth elements Sc, Y, La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Ho and Er from their binary oxide mixtures Er2O3-Sc2O3, Er2O3-Y2O3, Er2O3-La2O3, Er2O3-Nd2O3, Er2O3-Sm2O3, Er2O3-Gd2O3 and Er2O3-Ho2O3 has been investigated using a stepwise chlorination-chemical vapor transport (SC-CVT) reaction mediated by vapor complexes KLnCl4. The total transported yield of the chlorides produced from the oxide mixtures was in the order of ErCl3 > ScCl3, ErCl3 > YCl3, ErCl3 > LaCl3, ErCl3 > NdCl3, ErCl3 > SmCl3, ErCl3 > GdCl3 and HoCl3 > ErCl3, and the total separation factors are 13.0 for Er:Sc, 1.49 for Er:Y, 1.48 for Er:La, 1.15 for Er:Nd, 2.33 for Er:Sm, 2.72 for Er:Gd and 1.10 for Ho:Er. The largest separation factors 1213.8 for Er:Sc, 6.37 for Er:Y, 189.3 for Er:La, 100.6 for Er:Nd, 105.7 for Er:Sm, 27.8 for Er:Gd and 1.14 for Er:Ho in the lower temperature region, while 102.7 for La:Er, only 14.3 for Nd:Er, 16.7 for Sm:Er, 4.0 for Gd:Er and 2.04 for Ho:Er in the higher temperature region were observed, respectively. The results showed the obvious divergence effect of Gd both in the largest separation factors, the total separation factors and total transport efficiency. Furthermore, the results were discussed on the difference of ionic radius of Sc and Y on the one side and the lanthanoid elements of La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Ho and Er on the other hand, and verified that the ionic radius is one of the decisive factors only for lanthanide elements, not for Sc and Y.