Solvent extraction of Pr and Nd (III) from chloride-acetate medium by 8-hydroquinoline with and without 2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester as an added synergist in heptane diluent

In this paper, solvent extraction of Pr (III) and Nd (III) using 8-hydroxyquinoline in chloride-acetate medium has been systematically investigated. The effect of various parameters, such as equilibrium time, aqueous pH, extractant concentration, acetate ion concentration, chloride ion concentration, and organic solvent, on the extraction has been discussed. The synergistic effect in the mixtures of 8-hydroxyquinoline (HQ) and 2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (P507) has been explored, and the largest synergistic enhancement factor has been calculated. The separations of Pr (III), Nd (III) and La (III) by 8-hydroquiloline alone and by mixtures of HQ and P507 have been studied, and the results demonstrate that it is possible to separate Pr (III), Nd (III) and La (III) with the mixtures of HQ and P507. At last, the stripping of Pr, Nd and La (III) has been performed.