SEPARATION OF LANTHANUM (III) FROM MONAZITE USING TUBULAR SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANE

• Main Author: Kartika Sari (NIM : 10508017); Pembimbing : Dr. Aminudin Sulaeman., Mahdina
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/16330
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Monazite is one of the main sources of rare earth elements (REEs) and lanthanum is one of the main elements contained in monazite with cerium and neodymium. Separation of lanthanum (III) from other REEs are contained in the mineral monazite in this research is studied by Tubular Supported Liquid Membrane (TSLM) technique. Feed phase used in this study were samples of REEs concentrate from monazite destruction process with KOH. Lanthanum separation process using TSLM technique performed in several steps. The first step is monazite destruction using KOH, the second step is separation of Thorium and Uranium by adjusting pH, then oxidation of Cerium (III) to Cerium (IV) using KMnO4 and separation of REEs using TSLM. TBP (tributyl phosphate) and D2EHP (di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphate) in kerosene is used as a carrier and a HNO3 used as the receiving phase. Measurement of concentrations of REEs (III) done with visible light spectrophotometric method, after complexed with Alizarin Red S., at a wavelength of 530 nm. Optimization of the separation of La (III) compounds studied by varying the composition of the carrier in the membrane phase, varying concentration of HNO3(aq) in receiving phase and the variations in the concentration of REEs (III) in the feed phase. The best conditions of transport REEs (III) obtained in the composition of the carrier phase D2EHP: TBP = 0.75 M: 0.25 M, 0.1 M HNO3 as receiving phase and the concentration of REEs (III) in feed phase 797,5 ppm. In this condition, the amount of REEs (III) which successfully transported into the receiving phase as much as 91,96% and based on the results of XRF measurement, the purity of La (III) in this condition is 26,90%.