The distribution coefficients of Nd3+ and Y3+ between 0.1 and 2.1 M HNO3 and HDEHP at 298.15 K

Rare earth metals are considered to be some of the most critical raw materials on the planet due to their use in many products and technologies, the difficulty in isolating the individual elements from ores and each other, and the market restrictions that threaten their supply. However, despite this, the recycling rates for rare earth metals remain low. Hydrometallurgy has been proposed to hold the greatest potential for the recovery of rare earth metals from waste materials. However, the design of hydrometallurgical processes for the recovery of rare earth elements from waste requires a good understanding of the behaviour of the rare earth metals between different phases. In this study, the distribution coefficients of two rare earth metals, yttrium, and neodymium, between an organic solvent; bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, diluted in n-dodecane at between 0.25 M and 1 M; and an aqueous nitric acid solution at concentrations of between 0.1 M and 2.8 M were measured. Distribution measurements were performed using a series of liquid-liquid extraction cells at a constant temperature of 298.2 K. The concentration of the rare earth metals was measured using ICP-OES analysis. The distribution coefficients and the acid concentration were found to be inversely related to each other. Conversely, the distribution coefficients were directly proportional to the concentration of the solvent in the organic phase. The data reported in this paper will be used to design a counter-current liquid-liquid extraction column for the recovery of neodymium from waste permanent magnet powder.