EXTRACTION OF LIGHT LANTHANIDE NITRATES BY TRI-n-BUTYL PHOSPHATE

Abstract
The distribution of La, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd and Tb nitrates between water and tributyl phosphate was investigated over a broad range of concentrations. It has been found that the distribution constant varies only slightly with the lanthanide atomic number, whereas the activity coefficients of the salts in concentrated organic solutions change considerably with both the lanthanide atomic number and concentration. Distribution ratios and separation factors for a number of binary mixtures were determined as a function of the composition at constant total concentration in each phase.