Separation chemistry and clean technique of cerium(IV): A review

The separation method of changeable valence RE element of cerium (Ce) was reviewed in this paper. Solvent extraction is the most effective and efficient method to separate Ce(IV) from RE(III), usually accompanied with fluorine (F) and phosphor (P) from bastnaesite and monazite etc. By roast or wet-air oxidation, Ce(III) of bastnaesite and monazite was oxidized into Ce(IV), and Cyanex923 and [A336][P507] have been investigated to co-extract and recover Ce(IV), F and P from H2SO4 leaching liquor, leading to favorable conditions for the subsequent separation of Th(IV) and RE(III). The interaction of Ce(IV) and F and/or P enhances the roasting, leaching and extraction of Ce(IV) due to increasing of the stability of Ce(IV), and the formation of CeF3 and CePO4 after reductive stripping will benefit the utilization of F and P. For dealing with RE ores of high-content Ce, the clean process of oxidation roasting and Ce(IV)-F separation for Sichuan bastnaesite highlights the advantages of Ce(IV) based clean technique, which firstly demonstrates the comprehensive utilization of Ce(IV), Th(IV), F and RE(III) and prevention of environmental pollution from fountainhead. A preliminary flowsheet of two-step oxidation and extraction of Ce(IV) for Bayan Obo mixed ores was further proposed to process the oxidation and extraction of Ce(IV) in presence of both F and P, indicating the possibility of similar effects with clean process of Sichuan bastnaesite. Ce(IV) separation chemistry and clean technique will open up new realms for light RE resources utilization, meeting Emission Standards of Pollutants from Rare Earths Industry promulgated by China's Ministry of Environment Protection (MOP) in 2011.