Recovery and Recycling of Cerium from Primary and Secondary Resources- a Critical Review

Various processes for the recovery of cerium from metallurgical, non-metallurgical and secondary sources are reviewed. Cerium is present as a major constituent of primary resources like monazite, bastnasite, etc. Various secondary resources of cerium include phosphogypsum, red mud, blast furnace slag, NiMH batteries, FCC catalyst, glass films, CFLs, catalytic converters, etc. This review encompasses the research carried out for the extraction of cerium by pyro-hydrometallurgical methods followed by separation and purification with flowsheets. Also are enlisted in various processes like solvent extraction, ion exchange, membrane adsorption, ionic liquids, carbon-based nanomaterials, used for purification of cerium from the solution. Besides, the alternate methods to prepare cerium salts like fused salt electrolysis and metallothermic reduction are described.