Solvent extraction of Ce(III) from nitric acid medium using binary mixture of PC 88A and Cyanex 921

The extraction behaviour of Ce(III) from dilute nitric acid medium using a binary mixture of PC 88A and Cyanex 921 has been investigated. Several process parameters such as contact time, concentration of nitric acid, nitrate ion, extractant, diluents and Ce(III) concentration in aqueous feed, organic to aqueous phase volume ratio and temperature were varied to observe the influence on the extraction and to optimize operating conditions. Experimental results demonstrated that extraction of 0.001 mol/L Ce(III) from 0.001 mol/L HNO3 was 96.6% with mixture of 0.7 mol/L PC 88A and 0.1 mol/L Cyanex 921. The extraction mechanism was established by applying method of slope analysis. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated from temperature variation studies. The loaded Ce(III) was effectively stripped using 0.6 mol/L HCl or 1.2 mol/L H2SO4. Extraction data were analysed using regression method.