Separating rare earth metal oxalates
AssigneeIowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsDenis Prodius, Cajetan Ikenna Nlebedim, Anja-Verena Mudring
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Abstract
A method is provided for separating and/or purifying different metal oxalates by mixing the different metal oxalates in an aqueous solution comprising oxalic acid and an organic base so that at least one metal oxalate is soluble and at least another metal oxalate is not soluble. Different rare earth metal oxalates and/or transition metal oxalates can be separated.
Claims29
A method of separating different metal oxalates, comprising mixing the different metal oxalates and an aqueous solution comprising oxalic acid and an organic base wherein one metal oxalate is insoluble and another metal oxalate is soluble in the aqueous solution.
A method of purifying, comprising mixing an impure mixture comprising at least one rare earth metal oxalate and a transition metal oxalate impurity and an aqueous solution comprising oxalic acid and an organic base wherein the rare earth metal oxalate is insoluble and the transition metal oxalate impurity is soluble in the aqueous solution.
In a solvent extraction method of rare earth metals wherein rare earth metal oxalates are formed, the step of separating the rare earth metal oxalates by mixing the rare earth metal oxalates and an aqueous solution comprising oxalic acid and an organic base so that at least one rare earth metal oxalate is soluble and at least another rare earth metal oxalate is not soluble.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.