Studies on europium separation from a middle rare earth concentrate by in situ zinc reduction technique

Application of the resulted optimum laboratory conditions for the separation of europium on a middle rare earth concentrate containing 2.5 wt.% Nd, 10.13 wt.% Sm, 11.35 wt.% Eu, 2.6 wt.% Gd, and 2.7 wt.% Tb gave 95% recovery of europium (II) sulphate with a purity of 92%. In the second reduction-precipitation run, the purity was increased to 97% with a final recovery of 91%.