Simultaneous Recovery of Cerium and Fluorine from Bastnaesite leach liquor by Mixtures of Cyanex 923 and HEH(EHP)

In this paper, studies were carried out on the extraction and recovery of cerium and fluorine by mixtures of Cyanex923 and HEH(EHP) (2-ethylhexylphosphonic mono-2-ethylhexyl ester) from a bastnaesite sulphuric leaching solution. The effects of different variables on the extraction such as the H2SO4 concentration in the leaching liquor, saturated loaded extraction, and stoichiometric quantity of H2O2 were investigated. Results indicated that the capacity of Ce(III) and F extraction with HEH(EHP) was negligible and Ce(IV) could be strongly extracted by both Cyanex923 and HEH(EHP); on the other hand, CeF3 had been produced at the stripping stage. Furthermore, appropriate technical parameters of the extraction system have been provided for industry applications and have also been confirmed by multistage countercurrent extraction. On the basis of the above results, the integrated flow of separation and recovery of rare earths from bastnaesite has been provided.