METHOD FOR PROCESSING FLUORIDE RARE-EARTH CONCENTRATE Russian patent published in 2017 - IPC C22B59/00 C22B3/06 C22B3/24 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method for processing fluoride-containing rare-earth element concentrates (REE) and can be used in hydrometallurgy. Yttrium fluorite concentrate, containing wt %: 40 F, 13.15 ΣTr₂O₃, 0.16 TiO₂, 66.4 CaO, is treated with hydrofluoric acid with a concentration of 5-10 g/l at a temperature of 60-80°C for 4-8 hours in the presence of sulfoxide cationite with the transfer of rare-earth elements, calcium and thorium, into the sulfoxide cationite, and fluorine into the acidic solution. Sulphocationite is taken in an amount of 265-300% of the stoichiometrically necessary for the sorption of metal cations contained in the concentrate. Sulfocationite is then separated from the acidic solution and regenerated with a solution of ammonium nitrate to obtain a desorbate. The latter is subjected to stepwise neutralisation by an ammonium compound with successive precipitation and separation of thorium, a rare-earth concentrate and a calcium-containing precipitate.

EFFECT: expansion of the raw material base for the production of rare-earth elements with a high degree of extraction of rare-earth elements into concentrate, a high degree of purification from fluorine and thorium, and a reduction in the amount of generated waste.

2 cl, 4 ex