RARE METALS RECOVERY FROM THE SORBENTS OF THE SORPTION CONVERSION OF EUDIALYTE CONCENTRATE

Abstract

In order to develop the technology of eudialyte concentrate processing based on the use of sorption conversion, the patterns of metal extraction from sulphocationites saturated in the process and the regeneration of sulphocationite and solutions used for desorption for reuse are investigated. The compositions of saturated sorbents containing alkaline metals (sodium, potassium), alkaline earth and rare earth metals, titanium, zirconium (hafnium), niobium (tantalum), aluminium, iron, manganese, natural radionuclides are presented. Desorption with various solutions is investigated. It is found that niobium (tantalum) is most difficult to desorb. It is recommended to carry out two-stage desorption at a temperature of 20 °C: at first, with a 5 M NaCl solution, in which the majority of metals contained in the sorbent are converted into solution, and then desorption of zirconium and niobium with a 1 M Н2С2О4 solution. The issues of further processing of the obtained desorbates are considered. In accordance with previous studies, the impurity cake containing thorium, iron, aluminium, titanium is precipitated and separated from desorbates based on a 5 M NaCl solution through fractional neutralization, initially to pH 4, then the concentrate of rare earth elements is separated by neutralization to pH 7.5, and, finally, at pH ≥ 10, alkaline earth metals and manganese. Zirconium (hafnium) - niobium concentrate is precipitated from desorbates based on 1 M Н2С2О4 solution through neutralization with NaOH to pH 10, and then zirconium (hafnium) is leached from it using Na2CO3 solution. It is stressed that the sorbent in the H+-form is formed after desorption with a 1 M Н2С2О4 solution, which allows using it repeatedly to decompose eudialyte concentrate by sorption conversion. It is shown that the 1 M Н2С2О4 solution can be regenerated by electrodialysis from the Na2С2О4 solution obtained by precipitation of the collective zirconium (hafnium) - niobium concentrate.