INVESTIGATION OF THE THERMODYNAMIC AND KINETIC PARAMETERS OF NEODYMIUM EXTRACTION FROM ACID MEDIA

Abstract

The high cost of rare earth elements is known to restrict their practical application. Therefore, it is important to develop new methods for obtaining rare-earth products considering the physicochemical characteristics and regularities of the processes that occur during lanthanide extraction and separation. The work is devoted to the study of the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the extraction of neodymium from acidic media. The extraction of neodymium under various conditions from sulphuric-, hydrochloric- and nitric acid media is studied using such extractants as tributyl phosphate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid, as well as mixtures thereof. The main thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the process are calculated. The paper presents the results of the experimental work and data on neodymium extraction. The enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs and activation energies of the reaction are calculated. The course of the reaction is described. On the basis of the experimental data, conclusions are drawn about the mechanism of the process under study. The results of the research can be used to facilitate the extraction of rare-earth metals in various chemical industries.