Extraction Development for the Separation of Gadolinium from Yttrium and Dysprosium Concentrate in Nitric Acid using Cyanex 572
Corresponding email: kristri_basuki@batan.go.id
Published at : 21 Jul 2020
Volume : IJtech
Vol 11, No 3 (2020)
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14716/ijtech.v11i3.2581
Basuki, K.T., Rohmaniyyah, A., Pusparini, W.R., Saputra, A. 2020. Extraction Development for the Separation of Gadolinium from Yttrium and Dysprosium Concentrate in Nitric Acid using Cyanex 572. International Journal of Technology. Volume 11(3), pp. 450-460
| Kris Tri Basuki | Department of Nuclear Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Nuclear Technology (STTN), Jl. Babarsari, Yogyakarta 55821, Indonesia |
| Alfiyatur Rohmaniyyah | Department of Nuclear Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Nuclear Technology (STTN), Jl. Babarsari, Yogyakarta 55821, Indonesia |
| Wahyu Rachmi Pusparini | Accelerator Science and Technology Center (PSTA) - National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), Jl. Babarsari, Yogyakarta 55821, Indonesia |
| Andri Saputra | Department of Nuclear Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Nuclear Technology (STTN), Jl. Babarsari, Yogyakarta 55821, Indonesia |
Xenotime sand, a byproduct of the tin mining
process of PT Timah, is one of the potential gadolinium (Gd) resources. Because
of similarities in their physical and chemical properties, it is difficult to
separate and purify Gd from rare earth elements (REEs) in xenotime sand (i.e.,
yttrium and dysprosium). In the present work, Gd was separated through an extraction
process using Cyanex 572. The extraction feed solution was prepared by
digesting the REE oxalate in NaOH to obtain REE(OH)3. The effects of
the extraction parameters (i.e., stirring time and rate, feed pH and
concentration, and Cyanex 572 concentration) were examined via a batch
experiment. The optimum results of Gd separation from yttrium concentrate were
achieved when the process conditions included a 250-rpm stirring rate for 30
minutes, a 150×103-ppm
feed concentration at pH 3, and a 30% Cyanex 572 concentration. These
conditions gave distribution coefficient results for Y, Gd, and Dy of about
0.031, 0.827, and 1.060, respectively; separation factors of Gd-Y and Gd-Dy of
about 26.482 and 0.780, respectively; and extraction efficiencies for Y, Gd,
and Dy of about 3.119%, 46.627%, and 53.007%, respectively.
Cyanex 572; Dysprosium; Extraction; Gadolinium; Separation; Yttrium
Gadolinium (Gd), yttrium (Y), and dysprosium (Dy) are included in a
group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements called rare earth elements
(REEs). Gd has excellent scintillation properties and a high magnetic moment
compared with other REEs. In the nuclear industry, gadolinium oxide is used for
radiation-shielding ceramic compositions (Gupta and
Krishnamurthy, 2005) and control rods (Jaworski
and Gawlowski, 2015) as well as in making optical fibers. Gd is also
added to optical glasses for use in electro-optical and magneto-optical
systems. Gd (1%) in iron, chromium, and related alloys improves resistance to
oxidation and high temperatures (Xu et al., 2014).
Y is also an important element used in electrical material (Rahmawati et al., 2015), for example, to increase
ionic conductivity (Shakthinathan et al., 2012).
Data from 2014 shows that China is the world’s largest REE deposit, containing about 58% of the total global deposit of 154,135 tons. Meanwhile, the Indonesian REE deposit hypothesis shows a very small amount, about <1% of the total world deposit (Gunradi et al., 2019). The main minerals containing REEs found in Indonesia are xenotime, monazite, and zircon, associated with cassiterite obtained from alluvial tin mining. Granite, pegmatite, and metamorphic, ultramafic, and alluvial rocks are among the types of rocks that may contain REEs in Indonesia. These REE minerals are concentrated in the Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung, and parts of West Kalimantan (Virdhian and Afrilinda, 2014; Gunradi et al., 2019). Xenotime sand, a byproduct of the tin mining process of PT Timah, is one of the potential gadolinium resources of REEs. It contains rare earth phosphate minerals such as 29.53% Gd, 7.76% Y, and 2.58% Dy (Atmawinata et al., 2014). In Indonesia, xenotime has not been further processed to obtain pure REEs or to obtain its oxides. If Gd, Y, and Dy can be separated from other materials properly, this will increase xenotime’s economic value.
Because of
similarities in REEs’ physical and chemical properties, it is difficult to
separate and purify Gd from other REEs (other lanthanides). To separate Gd in
high purity, it is necessary to find the most efficient and feasible technology
(Fisher and Kara, 2016). High-purity REEs
like Gd have received considerable attention in recent years due to various
industrial applications, limited supply, significant price fluctuations, and
market availability (Hasan et al., 2009; Torkaman et al., 2013).
Many methods,
such as solvent extraction, fractional crystallization, ion exchange, and
chemical precipitation, are used to purify and separate REEs. A well-known
method of purification and separation is solvent extraction (Andriayani et al., 2015; Wahab
et al., 2016). On an industrial scale, solvent extraction is the most
successful method for the extraction and separation of REEs (Wang et al., 2014). The development of new
extractants and more efficient extraction techniques is essential for
maintaining a stable supply of REEs to meet rapidly increasing demand on a
global scale (Tunsu et al., 2016).
Organophosphorus
and amine are extractants commonly used to extract REEs in acid solutions.
Cytec Industries, Inc., introduced a new extractant, known as Cyanex 572, which
belongs to the type of organophosphorus extractant whose active ingredient is a
mixture of phosphinic and phosphonic acid with the active group of POOH. This
type of extractant is known for its selectivity to certain metals, and one such
extractant is used for the separation of metals from heavy REE groups using the
liquid-liquid extraction separation method (solvent extraction). Cyanex 572 is
specifically designed to extract heavy REEs under the required operating
conditions of low acidity (Cytec, 2014).
Cyanex 572 has been studied for extracting REEs and Th from waste residues,
including ion-absorbed minerals or fluorescent lamps (Tunsu
et al., 2016). Cyanex 572 synergized with n-octyl diphenyl phosphate
(ODP) has also been studied for extracting Th from leaching solutions of rare
earth residues (Zhou et al., 2019). El-Hefny et al. (2018) used Cyanex 572 to separate
Y(III) and Dy(III) in hydrochloric and nitric acid solutions.
Gd
extraction was studied by Vijayalakshmi et al.
(2014) using EHEHPA as a solvent and by Taufan
et al. (2008) using DBDTC. Torkaman et al.
(2016) also studied Gd extraction using D2EHPA and Cyanex 301. This study
proposes to investigate the separation of Gd from xenotime sand by an
extraction process using Cyanex 572 solvent in nitric acid solution. Nitric
acid has been used to dilute REE(OH)3
or Gd and other elements in REE(OH)3 (Taufan
et al., 2008).
Based on the results of the present research, the optimum conditions for
the separation of Gd from yttrium concentrate were obtained at a 30-minute
stirring time, a 250-rpm stirring rate, a feed concentration of 150×103 ppm with pH 3, and a
30% Cyanex 572 concentration. The distribution coefficient values of Y, Gd, and
Dy of about 0.031, 0.827, and 1.060, respectively. The separation factor value
of Gd-Y was 26.482, while that of Gd-Dy was 1.5276. The extraction efficiency
values of Y, Dy, and Gd were 3.119%, 53.007%, and 46.662%, respectively.
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