Sains Malaysiana 53(12)(2024): 3377-3388

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5312-20

 

Extraction Efficiency Study of Dysprosium and Neodymium from Acetic Leaching Solution of Xenotime by Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phosphoric Acid

(Kajian Kecekapan Pengekstrakan Disprosium dan Neodimium daripada Larutan Lesap Asetik Xenotim oleh Asid Fosforik Di-(2-Etillheksil))

 

KHAIRONIE MOHAMED TAKIP^1,2, NOORASHIKIN MD SALEH^1,*, ROSHASNORLYZA HAZAN² & ABDULLAH AMRU INDERA LUTHFI¹

 

¹Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
²Material Technology Group of Industrial Technology Division, Malaysia Nuclear Agency, 43000 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

 

Received: 26 September 2023/Accepted: 9 October 2024

 

Abstract

The increasing importance of rare earth elements (REEs) in advanced technologies has prompted extensive research on their extraction, notably neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy), critical components for neo-magnet production. Researchers are actively exploring Nd and Dy recovery from both primary and secondary REE sources, often employing solvent extraction post-acid leaching for effective separation. In this context, a study focused on extracting Nd and Dy from local xenotime minerals utilizing acetic acid (CH₃COOH) as the leaching solution and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) in kerosene at a 30% concentration as the organic solvent. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) analysis gauged Nd and Dy concentrations pre and post-extraction. The study identified optimal conditions, showing peak extraction efficiency: 99.4% for Nd and 99.3% for Dy, achieved using a 1M leaching solution concentration and a 1:1 aqueous-to-organic (A/O) phase volume ratio. The extraction process demonstrated highest efficacy at 30 °C within a 20-min timeframe. Consequently, the investigation highlights the potential of acetic acid as a xenotime leaching medium for Nd and Dy extraction with D2EHPA. Therefore, this study proves that CH₃COOH is potentially be used as the leaching media of xenotime for the extraction of Nd and Dy with D2EHPA.

 

Keywords: Dysprosium; D2EHPA; neodymium; rare earth elements; xenotime

 

Abstrak

Kepentingan yang semakin meningkat terhadap unsur bumi jarang (REEs) dalam teknologi canggih telah merangsang penyelidikan yang meluas terhadap pengambilan mereka, terutamanya neodimium (Nd) dan disprosium (Dy), komponen penting untuk pengeluaran neo-magnet. Penyelidik sedang mengkaji pemulihan Nd dan Dy daripada sumber REE utama dan sekunder, sering kali menggunakan pengekstrakan pelarut selepas pelarutan asid untuk pemisahan yang berkesan. Dalam konteks ini, satu kajian memberi tumpuan kepada pengeluaran Nd dan Dy daripada mineral xenotim tempatan dengan menggunakan asid asetik (CH₃COOH) sebagai larutan pelarutan dan Di-(2-etilheksil) asid fosforik (D2EHPA) dalam kerosin pada kepekatan 30% sebagai pelarut organik. Analisis Serakan Tenaga Pendarfluor Sinar-X (ED-XRF) telah mengukur kepekatan Nd dan Dy sebelum dan selepas pengekstrakan. Kajian ini mengenal pasti keadaan optimum, mendedahkan kecekapan pengekstrakan puncak: 99.4% bagi Nd dan 99.3% bagi Dy, dicapai dengan menggunakan kepekatan larutan pelarutan 1M dan nisbah isi padu fasa akuos-ke-organik (A/O) 1:1. Proses pengekstrakan menunjukkan keberkesanan tertinggi pada suhu 30 °C dalam tempoh 20 minit. Akibatnya, penyelidikan ini menyoroti potensi CH₃COOH sebagai medium pelarutan xenotim untuk pengekstrakan Nd dan Dy dengan D2EHPA. Oleh itu, kajian ini membuktikan bahawa CH₃COOH berpotensi digunakan sebagai medium pelarutan xenotim untuk pengekstrakan Nd dan Dy dengan D2EHPA.

Kata kunci: Disprosium; D2EHPA; neodimium; unsur nadir bumi; xenotime

 

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*Corresponding author; email: noorashikin@ukm.edu.my