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EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE IN ION-EXCHANGE SEPARATION OF RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS AND RECOVERY OF EDTA FROM EFFLUENT SOLUTIONS

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4828678
Separation efficiency of a 4% divinylbenzene (DVB) resin is not altered over a wide range in tempenrature. A 12% DVB resin, however, exhibits a marked sensitivity to temperature. When flow rates are high at ordinary temperatures, 4% DVB resin exhibits higher efficiency, but at 200 deg F both resins are equal in performance. Effective separation of rare-earth mixtures may be obtained with hydrogen as a retaining ion by maintaining column temperatures above the solubility of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in the free acid form. Slightly lower separation characteristics were obtained with this method as compared with copper as a retaining ion. Recovery of 99% of the EDTA from spent enluting solutions that contain copper has been accomplished by a calcium -copper displacement reaction followed by EDTA precipitation. IMpurities in the product are correspondingly low. Recoveries of EDTA from holmium solutions with sulfuric acid are substantial; however, those from yttrium solutions are quite modest. Radiotracer experiments show the presence of approximately 0.1% yttrium contamination in the recovered material. (auth)
Research Organization:
Bureau of Mines. Reno Metallurgical Research Center, Nev.
NSA Number:
NSA-16-003061
OSTI ID:
4828678
Report Number(s):
BM-RI-5879
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English