Influence of the Alkali-promoted phase transformation in monazite for selective recovery of rare-oxides using deep eutectic solvents

Abstract

The physico-chemical changes occurring during the high-temperature phase transformation of monazite in the presence of Na2CO3 at 1000 °C for 2 h duration at monazite: Na2CO3 ratios between 1.0 and 5.0, were investigated. The formation of sodium lanthanide phosphates was prevalent above a monazite:alkali ratio of 2, however, below this ratio, the dephosphorization of monazite as Na3PO4 and solid solutions occur offering unique selectivity for rare-earth oxide separation from the mineral matrix. Cyclic voltammetry of pure CeO2, La2O3, Nd2O3, and PrO2/Pr2O3 was carried out in the deep eutectic solvent Ethaline (1:2 mixture of choline chloride and ethylene glycol) proving the electrochemical activity of these oxides. Electrodissolution of pure oxides and water-leached monazite after high-temperature reaction with a ratio of 1:1 was carried out in a 0.1 mol/L glucose solution in Ethaline showing a preferential solubility of 23.85% for pure Nd2O3. In contrast, pure oxides of CeO2, La2O3 and PrO2/Pr2O3 were found to be insoluble. We also observed that electrodissolution of the water leached monazite was not possible because of the inert behaviour of solid solutions. Avoiding cerium oxidation during the high-temperature process will lead to a method for further selectivity for rare-earth oxide processing using staged electro-chemical winning of oxides.