Abstract
The development of a solvent extraction process for the preparation of ultrahigh purity scandium oxide is described. The process consists of two solvent extraction circuits, viz. the removal of zirconium from the starting scandium oxide (purity about 99%) from a 6 M HClO 4 solution of scandium with 100% tributyl phosphate (TBP) in single stage at an O:A phase ration of 1:1 in the first extraction circuit and the separation from scandium of impurity elements such as calcium, aluminum, manganese, titanium, yttrium and lanthanides, from a 5.8 HCl solution containing scandium with a 40 vol% solution of di(1-methyl heptyl) methyl phosphate (P 350) in kerosene in three counter-current stages at an O:A ratio of 1.9:1 in the second extraction circuit. The scandium in the loaded organic phase is fully stripped in three stages using 1 M HCl at an O:A ratio of 1:1 for the TBP system and 2:1 for the P 350 system. The scandium is recovered as scandium oxide after precipitation with oxalic acid and calcination at 750–800°C. Experimental data show that the purity of the final scandium oxide product exceeds 99.995% under the selected conditions. The extraction yield of scandium was 99% for the first circuit and 98% for the second. The total recovery of scandium was found to be 93% or higher.
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