A group separation and purification of Sm, Eu and Gd from Egyptian beach monazite mineral using solvent extraction

A batch process is developed to separate Sm, Eu, and Gd from the lanthanide hydrous oxide cake produced from monazite mineral of the Egyptian beach black sand deposits after Ce-separation. The process is based on extraction by di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid/ kerosene from nitric–hydrochloric acid mixture. Different acid solutions with different pH values for stripping are utilized. A concentrate containing 98% of Sm, Eu, and Gd as a group was obtained with a 78% recovery.