COMPARISON OF NAPHTHENIC ACID,VERSATIC ACID AND D2EHPA FOR THE SEPARATION OF RARE EARTHS

Equilibrium data are presented for the separation of selected rare earths Including La, Dy, Yb and Y, using solvent extraction from a chloride system. The solvents examined are Naphthenlc acid, Versatic acid and D2EHPA In shellsol 2016 at 15°C. The data presented show that Yttrium has a similar distribution co-efflclent to the heavy rare earths In D2EHPA but the distribution co-efflclent is similar to the light rare earths In the carboxyllc acid systems (Versatic and Naphthenlc acid). This Indicates that carboxyllc acids could be used to separate yttrium from heavy rare earths and In combination with D2EHPA for the separation from materials containing all the rare earths.