The separation of ytrrium and dysprosium from the rare earths product (48.15% Y2O3, 11.05% Dy2O3) obtained from a xenotime mineral concentrate was investigated. The rare earths chloride liquor is prepared followed by precipitation of yttrium using lactic acid. The optimum conditions of the yttrium precipitation are included 2 M lactic acid concentration, lactic acid pH 5 with L(REEs solution) /L(lactic acid) 1/0.75 at contact time of 168 h at 25 oC.
The extraction of dysprosium from Y-free REE chloride solution was investigated using PC88A. The optimum conditions of the dysprosium extraction involved an extractant concentration of 2.2 M, 1/1 an O/A ratio in a chloride solution at pH 3, and 9 min., as contact time. While the optimum conditions of its stripping considered 1.5 M H2SO4 in 1/1 an O/A ratio for 20 min., as stripping time. Ultra pure products of Y and Dy were prepared and analyzed using ICP-MS.