Properties of the material spontaneously formed in interfacial layer of system at extraction of rare-earth elements

Abstract

The wetting ability of the material formed spontaneously in the interface layer of an aqueous solution of a rare-earth element (REE) salt/solution of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) extraction system adhered onto a glass plate is investigated. It is found that its properties depend on the natures of the REE and the solvent, and the initial concentrations of the REE and the extracting reactant. It is shown that the material formed at the interface and adhered onto a glass plate has controlled wetting ability. The difference between the properties of interface REE formations for yttrium and cerium subgroups is established. The electric conductivity of interphase formations in the same systems is measured and shown to display an extreme dependence on time in systems with heptane but a monotonically increasing one in systems with toluene. It is shown that the electric conductivity of interphase formations diminishes sharply with an increase in the ratio of the initial concentrations of REE salt and D2EHPA. It is concluded that an increase in the relative gain of the average molar mass of interphase formations indicates coagulation and the formation of polymers.