D2EHPA treated resin for the extraction of rare earth elements

Resin-based separation techniques are utilised for the extraction of metals. However, separation of rare earth elements in ultrapure form by using resins is difficult due to similarity in chemical properties of rare earth elements. An attempt has been made to improve the selectivity of resin for the extraction of rare earth elements by using di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA). D2EHPA treated macroporous chloromethylated styrene divinyl benzene resin has been prepared and its potential to extract rare earth elements such as praseodymium and neodymium has been investigated. The extraction of neodymium was marginally higher than praseodymium. However, stripping of neodymium was significantly higher as compared to stripping of praseodymium in both hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid media. The properties of the resins have also been studied by using various instrumental techniques such as thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy.