Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers ISSN:2288-0291(Print) 2288-2790(Online) 한국자원공학회지

The extraction chromatography method containing P507 as extraction resin was employed to separate each element from the ternary rare earth mixture consisted of Dy, Ho and Er. Based on the batch test results, the extraction chromatography method was applied for the separation at various feed deposits, HCl flow rates, concentrations of effluents and pH. Batch test results showed that the distribution coefficient was the lowest when the concentration of HCl was 1.99 mol/ℓ. When the chromatography method was applied, the low feed deposit needed the large amount of effluent but gave high separation efficiencies. As the concentration of HCl increased from 0.6 to 1.0㏖/ℓ, αDyHo and αHoEr decreased 45.7 and 39.8%, respectively with less amount of effluent. In addition, the low acidity of feed (pH 4) was found to give high separation efficiencies. Consequently, the highest separation efficiencies (αDyHo=0.676, αHoEr=1.186, effluent 7,644㎖) could be achieved under the optimum condition (temperature: 50℃, eluent: 0.6㏖/ℓ HCl, flow rate of eluent: 6㎖/min, acidity of feed: pH 4.0, feed deposit : 1% of P507).