Synergistic extraction and separation of mixture of lanthanum and neodymium by hollow fiber supported liquid membrane

Separation of lanthanum and neodymium by supported liquid membrane has been studied. Synergistic extraction and recovery of lanthanum and neodymium with thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) in benzene have been found by the addition of Trioctylamine (TOA). Results indicate that percentage of extraction is highly dependent on pH of feed solution, which the maximum value is 2.5. When TOA was added to HTTA, the percentage of extraction and recovery considerably increased due to synergism. Lanthanum can be extracted and recovered more than neodymium because of the adduct formation constant,β1. Theβ1 values decreased with an increase in atomic number of lanthanide and showed a difference between lanthanum and neodymium. Percentage of extraction and recovery is enhanced when the HTTA concentration is increased, but its difference is larger when TOA concentration is increased. Finally, multi-column module of supported hollow fiber membrane was used and the percentage and difference of extraction and recovery was found to be more increased due to resident time.