Two-Step Solvent Extraction of Radioactive Elements and Rare Earths from Estonian Phosphorite Ore Using Nitrated Aliquat 336 and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phosphate

Estonian phosphorite ore contains trace amounts of rare earth elements (REEs), many other d-metals, and some radioactive elements. Rare elements, Mo, V, etc. might be economically exploitable, while toxic should removed before any downstream processing for environmental nutritional safety reasons. All untreated hazardous remain in landfilled waste much higher concentration than they occur naturally. To resolve this problem U, Th, Tl were from at first using liquid extraction. In the next step, REE isolated raffinate. Nitrated Aliquat 336 (A336[NO3]) Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phosphate (D2EHPA) used extraction comparison. An improved method exclusive separation REEs 2-steps has been developed, exploiting different pH values.