Sorption Extraction of Rare Earth Metals from Wet-Process Phosphoric Acid

Abstract

When apatites and phosphorites are processed, up to 30% of rare earth metals are converted into wet-process phosphoric acid. Wet-process phosphoric acid from the phosphorite treatment process differs from apatite one by impurity composition, i.e. the iron content is by 3.5 times, and calcium is by 5.0 times more. The complex composition of the wet-process phosphoric acid from the phosphorite treatment process requires additional researches to select optimal ion exchangers and technological parameters of sorption. Various aspects of sorption have been studied to select the optimal ion exchangers and technological parameters, and technological modes for desorption of rare earth metals from a cation exchanger to obtain a concentrate of rare earth metals have been completed. The method enables to extract rare earth metals without changing the composition of commercial wet-process phosphoric acid directly in the production process of the enterprises engaged in the phosphorite treatment process.