Selective Dissolution of Nd2O3 from the Mixture with Fe2O3 and Ga2O3 by Using Inorganic Acid Solutions Containing Ethylene Glycol

Rare earth elements (REEs) are strategically critical in the manufacture of advanced materials. Red mud and end-of-life NdFeB magnets can be good secondary sources for REEs, but recovery is difficult due to high iron oxide content small amount REEs. Oxide mixtures whose composition Fe, Nd, Ga was similar that red were employed experiments. In this study, a relatively inexpensive non-aqueous system used selectively dissolve Nd2O3 mixture with Fe2O3 Ga2O3. The addition ethylene glycol (EG) HCl H2SO4 solution depressed dissolution Ga2O3 from mixtures, thus selective possible. optimum conditions as follows: (a) 1.0 M EG, 25 °C ± 1 °C, 50 g/L pulp density, 120 min, 200 rpm; (b) 0.05 60 300 rpm. Under these conditions, completely dissolved, whereas no or dissolved by system, percentage two oxides less than 1%. Due it simple recover Nd. An efficient process developed REEs applying our results.