Synergistic solvent extraction of lanthanide ions with mixtures of D2EHPA and MIDPA in phosphonium-based ionic liquids

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

The synergistic solvent extraction of lanthanide(III) with mixtures of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA, A) and monoisodecyl phosphoric acid (MIDPA, B) in phosphonium-based ionic liquid was investigated. In the case of D2EHPA or MIDPA single extractant system, Ln(III) (Ln = Pr and Nd) was extracted as [LnAHA] or [LnBHB], respectively, the extracted species of Tb(III) or Dy(III) were determined by slope analysis. According to the equilibrium constants (, and ) and the formation constants (, and ), it was found that the extracted complex [TbHAB or [DyHAB] was more stable than [LnAHA] or [LnBHB]. The synergistic extraction effects were investigated to study the possibility of separating Dy(III) from Pr(III) and Nd(III) according to their separation factors.