Extraction of rare-earth nitrates by phosphoryl podands

The distribution of trace amounts of rare-earth nitrates between aqueous solutions of NH4NO3 and organic solutions of phosphoryl podands is studied for Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y. The stoichiometry of the extraction complexes is determined. The effect of the structure of the extractant and the nature of the organic solvent on the efficiency of rare-earth recovery to the organic phase is considered.