Synergistic extraction of rare earths by mixtures of trialkylbenzeneammonium nitrate and TBP from nitrate solutions

Distribution of nearly all rare earth elements (REE) in extraction by mixtures of trialkylbenzylammonium nitrate (TABA) and tributylphosphate (TBP) has been studied as a function of the composition of the mixtures and the serial number of the REE. The extraction has been found to involve an appreciable synergetic effect which somewhat decreases with the increasing serial number. The apparent extraction constant of the REE by the extragent mixture is more than ten times-higher the constant of extraction by the individual extragents