Separation of rare earth elements from other elements

A process for separation of rare earth elements (REE) from calcium and magnesium, characterized in that the process comprises the following steps:

• a) providing an acidic aqueous solution of REE, calcium and magnesium;
• b) adding a base to bring the pH of the solution to a pH in the range of pH 8 to pH 11, to form REE hydroxide;
• c) adding nano- or micro- particles selected from silica particles, titanium oxide particles and particles covered by a layer of silica to the solution to provide a particle suspension;
• d) agitating the particle suspension for a time period of from 6 h to 48 h, to provide for adherent crystallization of REE hydroxide on the particles;
• e) separating the particles loaded with REE hydroxide from the aqueous solution;
• f) releasing REE from the particles by treatment with aqueous acid to form an aqueous solution of REE salt;
• g) separating the non-loaded particles from the aqueous solution of REE salt;
• with the proviso that step c) can precede step b).