Extraction of rare earth elements using alkyl phosphinic acid or salt/tetraalkylammonium salt as extractant

摘要

A method whereby rare earth elements are extracted from acidic solutions thereof using, as an extractant, a mixture of an alkyl (C4-C12) phosphinic acid or salt and a tetraalkylammonium salt wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the four alkyl groups ranges from 14 to 56.