Interphase Distribution of Lanthanide Chlorides in Multicomponent Aqueous–Organic Two-Phase Systems Containing DEHPA

The interphase distribution of lanthanide chlorides in ternary aqueous–organic systems containing DEHPA has been studied as a function of the compositions of the aqueous and organic phases. It is found that, in a 1 : 1 : 1 ternary system (aqueous LaCl3 solution + CH3COONa + CH3COOH–DEHPA in hexane–isopropanol), one can achieve the separation of lanthanides, which depends on the ratio between sodium acetate and acetic acid in the aqueous phase and the DEHPA concentration in the organic phase. The separation coefficients of lanthanides with respect to lanthanum in the extraction of rare-earth metal chlorides from acetic acid–acetate solutions are calculated.