Extraction of Rare Earth Elements and Americium with a Solution of Zirconium Salt of 2-Ethylhexyl Hydrogen 2-Ethylhexylphosphonate in Hydrocarbons and Its Mathematical Description
摘要
The extraction of rare earth elements and americium from nitric acid media with solutions of 2-ethylhexyl hydrogen 2-ethylhexylphosphonate (P507 or PC-88A) in Isopar M diluent was studied. A set of chemical extraction reactions was proposed for describing the dependence of the rare earth element (REE) distribution ratios on the nitric acid concentration with an error of less than 10%. The degree of zirconium extraction from nitric acid solutions into 30% P507 exceeds 99.5%. In the process, the zirconium salt of P507 (ZS P507) is formed in the solvent phase; it exhibits secondary extraction properties with respect to REEs. The dependences of the REE distribution ratios in the ZS P507 solution on the nitric acid concentration can be described using the extraction reactions similar to the equations for REE extraction with P507 solutions.