PROCESS FOR PRODUCING, SEPARATING, AND RECOVERING RARE EARTH OXIDES FROM TOTAL RARE EARTH OXIDES

Abstract

The aim of this invention is to propose a simple process for separating and recovering rare earth elements from total rare earth oxides. This aim is achieved by appropriately pre-cleaning and treating the extract solution containing rare earth elements by filtration through an activated carbon filter column. As a result, this process can separate the desired rare earth elements more simply and with higher purification efficiency.Specifically, the invention proposes a process for the production, separation, and recovery of rare earth elements, including the following steps: (i) preparation of rare earth chloride or rare earth nitrate solutions; (ii) removal of sulfate ions (SO42-), iron, and radioactive impurities U and Th by precipitation of barium sulfate, separating iron and U, Th as iron (III) hydroxide co-precipitated with U and Th; (iii) removal of cerium ions by precipitation of cerium Ce4+; (iv) multi-stage organic extraction of the purified rare earth solution to obtain the required rare earth element-containing eluate fractions; (v) filtration of the rare earth element-containing eluate fractions using an activated carbon filter column to remove organic solvent microemulsions and obtain clean rare earth element-containing eluate fractions, corresponding to each rare earth element-containing eluate fraction.