Solvent Extraction of Yttrium from Rare Earths Concentrate Using Cyanex 272 and PC88A

Abstract

The recovery of yttrium using cyanex 272 & PC88A from the REEs concentrate which produced from xenotime-bearing ferruginous sandstone, southwestern Sinai was studied. Cyanex 272 solvent is known as a purified bis(2.4.4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid and PC88A solvent is also known as a purified 2-Ethylhexyl 2-ethylhexy phosphonic acid (HEHEHP). From a solution of rare earths chloride that prepared, the optimum conditions for yttrium extraction included mixture of 1.4 M cyanex 272 & 1.8 M PC88A / 0.25 M isodecanol in kerosene, 1/1 O/A ratio, the prepared liquor pH 3 and contact time 12 min. The decided optimum conditions of yttrium stripping are 3 M HNO3 in 1/1 O/A ratio for contact time 25 min. McCabe-Thiele diagram for yttrium extraction and stripping are created. Very pure product of yttrium was prepared and analyzed using ICP-MS.