Zirconium and Rare Earths Recovery from Eudialyte Concentrate Leaching Solution

The values of pH, temperature and initial concentrations of valuable components have influence on recovery efficiency of zirconium and rare earth elements (REE) from pregnant solutions of nitric-acid leaching of eudialyte concentrate by the chemical deposition method. Zirconium and rare earths exhibit selective recoverability of 99.95% and 87.50%, respectively. The loss of REE is 8.0% with zirconium product and 4.5% with pregnant solution. Micromorphology, structural chemistry and chemical composition of products are analyzed using the scanning electron microscopy, IR spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence analysis.