Selective separation of Yttrium and Uranium from Xenotime Concentrate

A new process suggested for the selective dissolution of rare earth elements REEs from xenotime concentrate produced after physical beneficiation namely; shaking table and froth flotation were proposed using ammonium sulfate. The suggested procedure was established upon the selectivity of ammonium sulfate as a leaching agent of rare earth element. The Dissolution kinetic analysis of valuable elements of the dissolution process and the suggested reaction mechanism concerning the rare earth and ammonium sulfate has been conferred. The obtained data confirmed that the main leaching suggested mechanism of rare earth was fit chemically controlled and the calculated activation energy was 40.597 kJ/mole. The paper was then concerning to disperse yttrium selectively from the rare earth concentrate via 200 g/L concentration of (NH4)2CO3 within 40 min. dissolution time, dissolution temperature is 70 °C, and S/L ratio is 1/5.