Fu-Xiang Cheng¹, Sheng Wu^1,2, Song-Ling Wang¹, Bo Zhang¹, Yan Liu¹, Chun-Sheng Liao^1,2*, Chun-Hua Yan²

Show more
¹ China Minmetals (Beijing) Research Institute of RE Co., Ltd., Beijing, China.
² Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Materials Chemistry and Applications, PKU-HKU Joint Lab on Rare Earth Materials and Bioinorganic Chemistry, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Show less

Abstract: Minimum amounts of extracting solvent and scrubbing agent solution (denoted as Smin and Wmin respectively) mean the theoretical minimal requirements for chemicals to achieve a specified separation duty, and therefore attract more concerns in the process design of countercurrent extraction separation. Over the past decade, hyperlink extraction technology has been widely used in rare earth separation industry in China with the target to decrease chemical consumption as well as pollution discharges. However, the equations of Smin and Wmin derived in the earlier version of the theory of countercurrent extraction can only be correctly applied to two-component separation and become invalid for hyperlink processes. It is significant to develop new aspects of the theory for design of the hyperlink processes. The separation of (A1A2···At－1)/(A2A3···At) is the basic configuration in the hyperlink processes differently from in conventional processes, where A1, A2, ···, At represent different kinds of rare earth ions with the same number of valence. The separations of two and three components have been discussed and the equations of Smin and Wmin are derived in our previous works. Nevertheless, it is still significant, especially for rare earth separations, to investigate the separations with more components. The present article will therefore focus on developing new expressions for Smin and Wmin applied to the (A1A2···At﹣1)/(A2A3···At) separation. Also a five-component separation case is simulated according to the derived equations. This work is an essential part of the new theory to design the hyperlink extraction processes.

Keywords: Theory of Countercurrent Extraction, Minimum Amount of Extracting Solvent, Countercurrent Extraction, Hyperlink Process, Multi-Component Separation

Cite this paper: Cheng, F. , Wu, S. , Wang, S. , Zhang, B. , Liu, Y. , Liao, C. and Yan, C. (2015) Minimum Amounts of Extracting Solvent of (A₁A₂···A_t-1)/(A₂A₃···A_t) Countercurrent Extraction Separation. Advances in Materials Physics and Chemistry, 5, 325-336. doi: 10.4236/ampc.2015.58032.

References

[1]   Brown, C.G. and Sherrington, L.G. (1979) Solvent Extraction Used in Industrial Separation of Rare Earths. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 29, 193-209.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jctb.503290402

[2]   Thakur, N.V. (2000) Separation of Rare Earths by Solvent Extraction. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 21, 277-306.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08827500008914171

[3]   Xie, F., Zhang, T.A., Dreisinger, D. and Doyle, F. (2014) A Critical Review on Solvent Extraction of Rare Earths from Aqueous Solutions. Minerals Engineering, 56, 10-28.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2013.10.021

[4]   Zhu, T. (1991) Solvent Extraction in China. Hydro-metallurgy, 27, 231-245.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-386X(91)90069-X

[5]   Rydberg, J., Cox, M., Musikas, C. and Choppin, G.R. (2004) Solvent Extraction Principles and Practice. 2nd Edition, CRC Press, Florida.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9780203021460

[6]   Radhika, S., Kumar, B.N., Kantam, M.L. and Reddy, R.B. (2011) Solvent Extraction and Separation of Rare-Earths from Phosphoric Acid Solutions with TOPS 99. Hydrometallurgy, 110, 50-55.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2011.08.004

[7]   Hoh, Y.-C. and Bautista, R.G., (1979) Liquid-Liquid Extraction Equilibrium Models for Binary and Ternary Lanthanides-HDEHP Systems. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Process Design and Development, 18, 446-453.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/i260071a017

[8]   Ryu, K.H., Lee, C.K., Lee, G.-G., Jo, S.K. and Sung, S.W. (2013) Modeling and Simulation of Solvent Extraction Processes for Purifying Rare Earth Metals with PC88A. Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, 30, 1946-1953.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11814-013-0135-3

[9]   Giles, A.E., Aldrich, C. and Van Deventer, J.S.J. (1996) Modeling of Rare Earth Solvent Extraction with Artificial Neural Nets. Hydrometallurgy, 43, 241-255.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-386X(95)00098-2

[10]   Anitha, M. and Singh, H. (2008) Artificial Neural Network Simulation of Rare Earths Solvent Extraction Equilibrium Data. Desalination, 232, 59-70.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2007.10.037

[11]   Xu, G.X., Li, B.G., Yan, C.H., Zhang, L.P. and Hao, H.M. (1985) Theory of Countercurrent Extraction and Its Applications in Rare Earth Extraction Industry. In: Xu, G.X., Ed., New Frontiers in Rare Earth Science and Applications, Science Press, Beijing, 429-437.

[12]   Xu, G.X. (1995) Chapter 8: Rare Earths. Metallurgical Industry Press, Beijing. (In Chinese)

[13]   Yan, C.H. (1988) One-Step Scale-Up of Rare Earth Extraction Separation Process. Doctoral Dissertation, Peking University, Beijing. (In Chinese)

[14]   Yan, C.H., Jia, J.J., Liao, C.S., Wu, S. and Xu, G.X. (2006) Rare Earth Separation in China. Tsinghua Science & Technology, 11, 241-247.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1007-0214(06)70183-3

[15]   Feng, Z.Y., Huang, X.W., Liu, H.J., Wang, M., Long, Z.Q., Yu, Y. and Wang, C.M. (2012) Study on Preparation and Application of Novel Saponification Agent for Organic Phase of Rare Earths Extraction. Journal of Rare Earths, 30, 903-908.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0721(12)60152-5

[16]   Han, Q.Y. (2013) Technical and Economical Evaluation on Separation Process of Light Rare Earth. Journal of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths, 31, 399-404. (In Chinese)

[17]   Xiao, Y.F., Long, Z.Q., Huang, X.W., Feng, Z.Y., Cui, D.L. and Wang, L.S. (2013) Study on Non-Saponification Extraction Process for Rare Earth Separation. Journal of Rare Earths, 31, 512-516.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0721(12)60311-1

[18]   Moeller, T., Martin, D.F., Thompson, L.C., Ferrus, R., Feistel, G.R. and Randall, W.J. (1965) The Coordination Chemistry of Yttrium and the Rare Earth Metal Ions. Chemical Reviews, 65, 1-50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/cr60233a001

[19]   Sato, T. (1989) Liquid-Liquid Extraction of Rare-Earth Elements from Aqueous Acid Solutions by Acid Organophosphorus Compounds. Hydrometallurgy, 22, 121-140.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-386X(89)90045-5

[20]   Liao, C.S., Wu, S., Cheng, F.X., Wang, S.L., Liu, Y., Zhang, B. and Yan, C.H. (2013) Clean Separation Technologies of Rare Earth Resources in China. Journal of Rare Earths, 31, 331-336.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0721(12)60281-6

[21]   Wu, S., Liao, C.S. and Jia, J.T. (2003) Chinese Software Registration. Register No. 2003SR4279.

[22]   Wu, S., Liao, C.S., Jia, J.T. and Yan, C.H. (2004) Static Design for Multiple Components and Multiple Outlets Rare Earth Countercurrent Extraction (I): Algorithm of Static Design. Journal of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths, 22, 17-21. (In Chinese)

[23]   Wu, S., Liao, C.S., Jia, J.T. and Yan, C.H. (2004) Static Design for Multi-Component and Multi-Outlet Rare Earth Countercurrent Extraction (II): Static Design and Its Verification. Journal of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths, 22, 171-176. (In Chinese)

[24]   Cheng, F.X., Wu, S., Liao, C.S. and Yan, C.H. (2013) Adjacent Stage Impurity Ratio in Rare Earth Countercurrent Extraction Process. Journal of Rare Earths, 31, 169-173.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0721(12)60253-1

[25]   Cheng, F.X., Wu, S., Liu, Y., Wang, S.L., Zhang, B., Liao, C.S. and Yan, C.H. (2014) Minimum Amount of Extracting Solvent for AB/BC Countercurrent Separation Using Aqueous Feed. Separation and Purification Technology, 131, 8-13.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2014.04.031

[26]   Cheng, F.X., Wu, S., Zhang, B., Liu, Y., Wang, S.L., Liao, C.S. and Yan, C.H. (2014) Minimum Amount of Extracting Solvent of AB/BC Countercurrent Extraction Separation Using Organic Feed. Journal of Rare Earths, 32, 439-444.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0721(14)60091-0

[27]   Cheng, F.X., Wu, S., Liu, Y., Wang, S.L., Zhang, B., Liao, C.S. and Yan, C.H. (2014) Minimum Amount of Extracting Solvent of a Separation of Two Rare Earth Components. Advances in Materials Physics and Chemistry, 4, 275-283.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ampc.2014.412030