A scheme for the analysis of monazite and monazite concentrates

A scheme using ion-exchange methods is described for the analysis of monazites and monazite concentrates. The sample is opened up with concentrated sulphuric acid, and the resultant solution is applied to a column of Zeocarb 225 resin. After phosphate has been washed out, lead, aluminium, titanium, iron, uranium, calcium and magnesium are eluted with N hydrochloric acid and determined by specific, mainly spectrophotometric, methods. Rare earth elements are eluted with 3 N hydrochloric acid. Cerium is separated from the other rare earths by solvent extraction of its nitrate with methyl iso-butyl ketone; both groups are determined gravimetrically. Thorium is eluted from the ion-exchange resin with 3.6 N sulphuric acid and determined spectrophotometrically with thorin.The sulphuric acid-insoluble minerals are brought into solution by a double fusion method, and the determinations are carried out by a combination of ion-exchange and photometric procedures. Silica, phosphorus pentoxide, tin and chromium are determined by photometric methods, using separate portions of the sample.Lanthanum, yttrium and ytterbium are determined in a 1 M perchloric acid solution of the mixed rare earth oxides (less cerium) using flame photometry. Samarium, praseodymium and neodymium are determined by spectrophotometry.