EXTRACTION SEPARATION OF SCANDIUM AND THORIUM Russian patent published in 2017 - IPC C22B59/00 C22B3/38 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to hydrometallurgy of rare and radioactive metals and can be used for separation of scandium and thorium, contained in nitrate solutions for processing of scandium-containing raw material. Method for extraction separation of scandium and thorium, contained in nitrate solutions, includes pre-conditioning of initial solution on content of nitric acid to 0.5–1.5 M and nitrate ions to 6–8 M. Method then includes multistage counterflow extraction of scandium from conditioned solution with concentration of scandium 1–10 g/l and thorium 0.01–1 g/l solution of tributyl phosphate in an organic diluent. Further, method includes re-extraction of scandium with water at recycle ratio 4:1 until achieving concentration of scandium in re-extract of 5–20 g/l.

EFFECT: providing high degree of separation of scandium and thorium.

1 cl, 2 tbl, 2 ex