Study of Parameters Affecting the Extraction of Ytterbium from Anomaly No.5 of Saghand Ore Leach Solution

Extraction of ytterbium from anomaly No.5 of Saghand leach solution using DEHPA as extractant, kerosene as a diluent, and optimization of the effective parameters were investigated. In addition to uranium and thorium, rare earths elements also exist in Saghand ore. The effect of pH on the extraction of Yb and other existing elements shows that their extractions increase by increasing pH. The extraction of Yb, U, La, Y, Ce and Fe in pH= were 99.9, 8, .5, 99.8, 8.5 and 7.%, respectively. The increasing of the A/O ratio decreases the extraction of other elements more than Yb where it resulted in the increasing of the Yb separation. The theoretical number of extraction stages were determined in pH= and A/O=9 using McCabe-Thiele diagram. Stripping of the organic phase was also carried out by different concentrations of nitric acid.