Heavy rare earth and light rare earth separation method and extraction agent

Abstract

The invention discloses a heavy rare earth and light rare earth separation method and a heavy rare earth and light rare earth separation extraction agent. The method includes the step of conducting extraction on a rare earth element and nitrate mixed aqueous solution through imidazolyl ionic liquid where the extraction agent is dissolved or chloroform where the extraction agent is dissolved or a 1-pentanol diluent where the extraction agent is dissolved so that heavy rare earth elements can be extracted and yttrium and light rare earth elements can be kept in the aqueous phase, wherein the extraction agent which is used is 1-methylimidazole shown in the chemical formula 1 or 2-methylimidazole shown in the chemical formula 2 when the diluent is the imidazolyl ionic liquid or the chloroform, and the extraction agent which is used is 2-methylimidazole shown in the chemical formula 2 when the diluent is the 1-pentanol diluent. The heavy rare earth and light rare earth separation method and the heavy rare earth and light rare earth separation extraction agent have the advantages that the extraction agent is low in price and can be easily obtained, the extraction system is simple, the extraction efficiency is high, the amount of the extraction agent which is used is small, and the specificity is strong.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a method for separating heavy rare earth metals from light rare earth metals, to the extraction agent used, and to a new use of a known substance. Background technique [0002] Rare earth elements are widely used in many fields of national economy and national defense construction, and their importance is increasing day by day. Since rare earth elements have very similar properties and coexist in nature, their mutual separation has become a major problem in separation science. [0003] Separation methods currently used in rare earth production: [0004] (1) Step-by-step method The step-by-step method uses the difference in the degree of difficulty (solubility) of compounds to dissolve in solvents to separate and purify. Because the solubility difference between the rare earth element compounds is very small, the separation of the two rare earth elements must be repeated many times, so this is a very difficult task (Gupta and...

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Problems solved by technology

Common problems with these methods are low separation efficiency, poor selectivity, high acidity for back extraction, and long extraction equilibration time (J Chem Technol Biotechnol 2009; 84: 565–569; Hydrometallurgy 97: 198–203 (2009))

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