Basic research on batchwise multi-stage extractions using TODGA for Dy/Nd separation

Sasaki, Yuji  ; Matsumiya, Masahiko*; Tsuchida, Yusuke*

The mutual separation of lanthanides is studied by multi-stage extraction using extractant, DGA (diglycolamide) compounds. Tetraoctyl-DGA (TODGA) has a high extractability to lanthanides and relatively high separation factor (SF) between Dy and Nd (SF: over 20). The complete separation with such SF value can be achieved by multi-stage extraction. Less information on multi-stage extraction compared to batch extraction is presented up to now, thus we conduct the basic study about that. Confirming the experimental data to be identical to the calculation, the sample solution including both metals is employed for the batchwise multi-stage extraction. Ninety-seven % of Dy with under detection limit of Nd can be recovered into the organic phase from Nd with ten times higher concentration than Dy using the condition, 0.1 M TODGA/n-dodecane and 0.3 M HNO by multi-stage extraction of 99 for organic and aqueous phases.