Extraction kinetics of neodymium from chloride medium using HEH/EHP saponified with magnesium bicarbonate solution

Abstract

Magnesium bicarbonate solution is considered as an environmentally friendly extractant saponification agent for the solvent extraction of rare earth elements due to its advantage of minimum water pollution. In order to reveal the extraction regularity, optimize production-process and guide the use of this new extraction system, the extraction of Nd(Ⅲ) in chloride medium with HEH/EHP saponified by magnesium bicarbonate solution was investigated with the self-designed constant interfacial area cell. Besides, the effects of stirring rate, temperature, specific interfacial area and concentration of Mg-HEH/EHP on the extraction rate of Nd(Ⅲ) were systematically investigated. Results show that, the rate of extraction is governed by both diffusion and chemical reaction, and the extraction reaction takes place at the interface. The apparent activation energy of the extraction reaction is 16.88 kJ/mol. The corresponding rate equation is deduced. The mechanisms and rate-determining step are speculated based on interfacial reaction models, which is consistent with the experimental results.