Carrier-mediated transport of rare earth elements through liquid membranes

Transport of tervalent REEs–Sc, Y, Ce, Eu, Gd, Tm, Yb—from nitrate medium through flat-sheet SLM containing DEHPA in n-dodecane, supported on a nucleoporous filter, has been studied. Influences of both aqueous phase acidities, concentrations of metal and carrier were investigated. Transport courses of the metals in question had been obtained and their premeation coefficients or initial fluxes were evaluated. Separation of some binary mixtures Ce–Tm, Ce–Yb, Ce–Sc was experimentally achieved.