Partition of lanthanum and neodymium metals and chloride salts between molten cadmium and molten LiCl-KCl eutectic

Abstract The distribution of lanthanum and neodymium between a molten cadmium pool and molten LiCl-KCl eutectic was measured over the temperature range 753–788 K. Lanthanum and neodymium metals in amounts more than sufficient to form a saturated solution were added to cadmium, then progressively oxidized to salt-soluble trichlorides by additions of cadmium chloride. In the early stages of oxidation a solid metal phase existed; it can be described as a solid solution of LaCd 11 and NdCd 11 . A regular solution solubility parameter of −1990±390 (±2 σ ) was derived for the solid solution. In the later stages of oxidation only an unsaturated solution of lanthanum and neodymium in cadmium existed. Lanthanum was slightly more easily oxidized than neodymium; a separation factor of 2.5±1.1 was measured.