METHOD OF EXTRACTIVE SEPARATION OF RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS

FIELD: chemical elements separation technologies. ^ SUBSTANCE: method of extractive separation of rare-earth elements having atomic numbers 60-71 and 39 involves extraction in liquid-liquid system composed of aqueous phase containing rare-earth element salts and organic phase containing extractant selected from group of phosphinic acids. Extract is washed and then re-extracted with nitric acid solution. Organic phase contains isododecylphosphetanic acid depicted by following structural formula: . Before extraction, extractant is saturated with rare-earth elements and concentrations of rare-earth elements and nitric acid in initial solution to be extracted are adjusted to 0.30-1.00 M and 0.10-0.20 N, respectively. ^ EFFECT: increased rare-earth element separation efficiency due to more productive extraction processes and reduced consumption of reagents. ^ 5 cl, 1 dwg, 1 tbl