Modelling the Selective Recovery of Praseodymium, Neodymium, Terbium, and Dysprosium from Malaysian Saprolite Using a Multi-Extraction System

Farouq Ahmat; Mohd Yusri Mohd Yunus

doi:10.58915/aset.v4i2.2067

Authors

Farouq Ahmat Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah
Mohd Yusri Mohd Yunus Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58915/aset.v4i2.2067

Keywords:

Extraction framework, Reflux, Solvent extraction, Separation factor, Xu counter-current principle

Abstract

The extraction of rare earth elements is complex, arduous, and laborious because of the similarity of the physicochemical properties of adjacent elements. The introduction of cascade solvent extraction allows for the simultaneous extraction of rare earth elements with high purity and recovery. However, no single extractant is capable of effectively extracting all the rare earth elements; hence, multiple extractants are required to extract the target elements. This present study describes the model for extracting rare earth by integrating hexylphosphic mono-2-ethylhexyl ester and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid with hydrochloric acid as the scrubbing agent in a kerosene medium, as an extensive extraction was introduced. However, the lack of an efficient and structured framework for executing the extensive integration of a multi-extraction system presents a significant challenge. Currently, there is no established systematic framework for integrating multiple extractants to facilitate the separation of rare earth elements. In response, a systematic extraction framework was developed and used to model this extensive extraction method. The ultimate purpose of the model was to accurately predict the separation stage at equilibrium, as well as its outcomes, and to evaluate the effects of the feed ratio, reflux of extraction and scrubbing, and mass flow rate on the separation stage. It was found that the optimal ratio of the easily extractable solute to the more difficult solute, as well as the ratio of extraction to scrubbing reflux through modeling, was 50:50. The extraction process required 379 stages to achieve approximately 99.99% purity and 99.0% recovery of praseodymium, neodymium, terbium, and dysprosium from saprolite. The amount of extracted praseodymium, neodymium, terbium, and dysprosium can reach 55.74 tons per annum by adopting the proposed multi-extraction system.

References

[1] Zhang, J., Zhao, B., & Schreiner, B. Separation Hydrometallurgy of Rare Earth. Springer (2016).

[2] Dezhi, Q. Hydrometallurgy of Rare Earths: Extraction and Separation. Elsevier (2018).

[3] The Academy of Sciences Malaysia. Sustainable mining: Rare earth industries. The Academy of Sciences Malaysia (2019).

[4] Tohar, S. Z., & Yunus, M. Y. M. Mineralogy and BCR sequential leaching of ion-adsorption type REE: A novelty study at Johor, Malaysia. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, vol 120 (2020) p. 102947.

[5] Hamzah, Z., Ahmad, N. M., & Saat, A. Determination of heavy minerals in “Amang” from Kampung Gajah ex-mining area. Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, vol 13 (2009) pp. 194–203.

[6] Van Gosen, B. S., & Lowers, H. A. Iron Hill (Powderhorn) carbonatite complex, Gunnison County, CO - a potential source of several uncommon mineral resources. Mining Engineering, vol 59 (2007) pp. 56–62.

[7] Van Gosen, B. S., Verplanck, P. L., Seal II, R. R., Long, K. R., & Gambogi, J. Critical mineral resources of the United States— Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1802 (2017) pp. O1-O31.

[8] Long, K. R., Van Gosen, B. S., Foley, N. K., & Cordier, D. The principal rare earth elements deposits of the United States: A summary of domestic deposits and a global perspective. In: Non-Renewable Resources: Issues in Geosciences and Society's Challenges (2012) pp. 131–155.

[9] Wu, W., Li, D., Zhao, Z., Chen, J., Zhang, F., & Yin, S. Formation mechanism of micro emulsion on aluminum and lanthanum extraction in P507-HCl system. Journal of Rare Earths, vol 28 (2010) pp. 174–178.

[10] Duan, T., Li, H., Kang, J., & Chen, H. Cyanex 923 as the extractant in a rare earth element impurity analysis of high-purity cerium oxide. Analytical Sciences, vol 20 (2004) pp. 921–924.

[11] Zhang, W., Feng, D., Xie, X., Tong, X., Du, Y., & Cao, Y. Solvent extraction and separation of light rare earths from chloride media using HDEHP-P350 system. Journal of Rare Earths, vol 40 (2022) pp. 328–337.

[12] Liao, C. F., Jiao, Y. F., Liang, Y., Jiang, P. G., & Nie, H. P. Adsorption-extraction mechanism of heavy rare earth by Cyanex272-P507 impregnated resin. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (English Edition), vol 20 (2010) pp. 1511–1516.

[13] Peelman, S., Kooijman, D., Sietsma, J., & Yang, Y. Hydrometallurgical recovery of rare earth elements from mine tailings and WEEE. Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy, vol 4 (2018) pp. 367–377.

[14] Gergoric, M., Barrier, A., & Retegan, T. Recovery of rare-earth elements from Neodymium magnet waste using glycolic, maleic, and ascorbic acids followed by solvent extraction. Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy, vol 5 (2019) pp. 85–96.

[15] Regad, M., & Binnemans, K. E. B. M. O. A. Separation of rare earths by mixtures of an ionic liquid and a neutral extractant. 2nd Conference on European Rare Earth Resources (2017).

[16] Sun, P. P., Seo, H., & Cho, S. Y. Recovery of neodymium, dysprosium, and iron from spent mobile phone camera module magnets through a hydrometallurgical method. Minerals Engineering, vol 163 (2021).

[17] Liu, Y., Jeon, H. S., & Lee, M. S. Solvent extraction of Pr and Nd from chloride solution by the mixtures of Cyanex 272 and amine extractants. Hydrometallurgy, vol 150 (2014) pp. 61–67.

[18] Gijsemans, L., Forte, F., Onghena, B., & Binnemans, K. Recovery of rare earths from the green lamp phosphor LaPO4:Ce3+,Tb3+ (LAP) by dissolution in concentrated methanesulphonic acid. RSC Advances, vol 8 (2018) pp. 26349–26355.

[19] Chen, W. S., Jian, G. C., & Lee, C. H. Recovery and separation of Dysprosium from waste Neodymium magnets through Cyphos IL 104 extraction. Materials (Basel), vol 15 (2022).

[20] Yusri, M., Yunus, M., Ismail, A., & Abdul, B. Introduction to Separation Index: Modelling of Rare Earth Element Extraction Complexity for Feasible Processing (2016).

[21] Mackowski, S. Mackowski.pdf (2014).

[22] Wang, C., Yan, R., Cui, H., Shi, J., Yan, N., & You, S. Separation of yttrium from ion-adsorbed-rare-earth deposit leachates using N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)-diglycolamic acid (HDEHDGA): Preliminary experimental and molecular dynamics simulation studies. Hydrometallurgy, vol 231 (2025).

[23] Talens Peiró, L., & Villalba Méndez, G. Material and energy requirement for rare earth production. JOM, vol 65 (2013) pp. 1327–1340.

[24] Li, B., Y., N., & Xu, G. Theory of countercurrent extraction volume V (in Chinese) (1982).