Extraction of scandium from ion-adsorptive rare earth deposit by naphthenic acid

An extraction method for producing high purity Sc(III) from ion-adsorptive rare earth deposit (LARED) is presented. Naphthenic acid diluted with iso-o ctanol and sulfated kerosene is selected as the extractant, chloride acid a s the scrubbing and stripping solution. By two extraction processes in naph thenic acid system, scandium is concentrated from 0.02-0.04% to 15-20% (wt. ), and further purified to 99.99-99.999% grade. The stoichiometry of the ex traction of Sc(III) with naphthenic acid was also determined. (C) 2001 Else vier Science B.V. Air rights reserved.