Enhanced characteristics and mechanism of static magnetic field on ion-absorbed rare earth precipitation

Abstract

Separation of ion-absorbed rare earth elements (REE) by oxalate used as a precipitator is the principal extraction process employed in the mining industry. The oxalic acid precipitator plays the key role in the precipitation process. In this paper, the enhanced effect of a static magnetic treatment applied to the precipitation process of REs was investigated. Compared to the non-magnetization, the results of magnetic processes appeared to be better and its optimal precipitation conditions was obtained at pH value of the precipitation solution at 2,RE2O3: H2C2O4=2.5:1, a magnetic strength 400kAm−1, a 20min magnetization time in a magnetized oxalate solution. The dosage of oxalate precipitator is less 5% to that employed in conventional processes conditions with non-magnetization while the purity of the rare earth still keeps stable. The electrical conductivity of the oxalate precipitator was increased by magnetization. A possible change in the electron spin of the magnetized precipitator ultimately affected the pace of rare earth precipitation crystallization and growth direction of the rare earth-bearing precipitated crystals.