Extraction of Yttrium from Ferruginous Sandstone, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt

The Ferruginous sandstone ore was obtained from Ramlet Hemeyir area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt, which contains 10 % (REE) rare earth elements. A representative sample has been subjected to acid agitation leaching using H 2 SO 4 where 93% of the REE content was released by mixing the ground sample to (-100 mesh) with concentrated H 2 SO 4 at solid/liquid (S/L) ratio of 1/2 for 5h at a temperature ranged from (250 - 300 o C). The REE was precipitated in the oxalate form from the prepared sulfate leach liquor. Next selective extraction of 98% Y was achieved by contacting Y was extracted by di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) with the aqueous solution of nitric acid leaching of the REE cake. Stripping was done by hot H 2 O (80 o C). Finally, a precipitation with oxalic acid was done followed by ignition at 950 o C. A yield of 95% Y oxide was produced.