Extraction and separation of uranium(VI) and Fe(III) from lanthanide chlorides with N,N,N′,N′-tetrasubstituted alkyl diglycolamide extractants

Abstract

It is of great significance to separate impure elements from rare earth in high purity rare earth production. The extraction of uranium(VI) with three structurally related N,N,N′,N′-tetrasubstituted alkyl diglycolamide extractants in kerosene was studied. The relationship between the chemical structure of diglycolamide and their uranium(VI) extraction behavior was discussed. The extraction of Fe(III) and Nd(III) from chloride media was compared with that of uranium(VI) under the same experimental conditions. The results showed that uranium(VI) and Fe(III) can be effectively removed from NdCl3 solutions with N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide using kerosene as diluent.