Solvent extraction of lanthanum and cerium ions from hydrochloric acidic aqueous solutions using partly saponified 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester

Abstract

In order to clarify the extraction process with saponified extractant, the solvent extraction experiments of rare earth elements (REEs), lanthanum and cerium, by using partly saponified 2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (EHEHPA, HL) from hydrochloric acidic solutions have been performed. The concentration of initial aqueous rare earth ion was in a range of 0.0010–0.1000mol·L−1; EHEHPA in a range of 0.2877–0.8631mol·L−1with saponification rate of 0.3 (mole fraction), and the initial aqueous pH in a range of 1.00–4.00. Firstly, the extracted species were determined by the saturation extraction capacity method. Secondly, according to the equilibrium aqueous pH values, the extraction processes were divided into three different categories: extraction with saponified EHEHPA, extraction with un-saponified EHEHPA, and hydrolysis process. Finally, for the first two processes, in order to predict the distribution ratio, two semi-empirical calculation models were developed with. The calculation results are in good agreement well with the experimental data.