METHOD OF SEPARATING YTTRIUM AND YTTERBIUM FROM TITANIUM IMPURITIES Russian patent published in 2020 - IPC C22B59/00 C22B3/38 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to hydrometallurgy of rare metals and can be used for obtaining extracts of rare-earth metals with low content of titanium during processing of extraction phosphoric acid during production of phosphorus fertilizers, as well as during processing of sulfuric acid solutions containing rare-earth metals and titanium. Separation of yttrium and ytterbium from impurities of titanium involves extraction of yttrium, ytterbium and titanium cations from solutions of phosphoric acid with an organic extraction agent – solution of di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid in kerosene. Reagent used is aqueous solution of oxalic acid with concentration of 0.25 to 1 M. Mixing speed is 300–500 rpm. Extraction is carried out from solutions of sulfuric acid, re-extraction is carried out in 10–14 steps at ratio of volumes of extract saturated with titanium, yttrium and ytterbium, and aqueous solution of 0.5–2:1, temperature of 30–60 °C and phase contact time of 20 to 30 minutes to obtain a purified solution of sulfuric acid, which is sent to leaching phosphogypsum or to extraction of phosphoric acid from apatite. Extracted from titanium ions is fed for re-extraction of rare-earth metals, and aqueous solution of titanium – for regeneration of oxalic acid and obtaining titanium compounds.

EFFECT: method enables extraction of 90 % titanium from an extract based on di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid while preserving rare-earth metals therein.

1 cl, 5 dwg, 1 tbl