Studies on extraction and separation of La(III) with DEHPA and PC88A in petrofin

The solvent extraction of lanthanum(III) from nitrate solution using DEHPA and PC88A as extractants diluted with petrofin was investigated. The findings indicated that lanthanum extraction process follows a cation-exchange mechanism. The effect of experimental parameters like shaking time, extractant molarity, aqueous medium pH, presence of salt, phase volume ratio, and diluents on the extraction process has been studied. Extraction of 99.8% and 85% has been noticed with 0.5 mol/L DEHPA and 0.6 mol/L PC88A, respectively. Stripping of lanthanum from the loaded organic phase with mineral acids and separation of lanthanum(III) from Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm have also been reported. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.