Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

Fall 1-31-1993

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering - (Ph.D.)

Department

Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science

First Advisor

Ching-Rong Huang

Second Advisor

Edward Charles Roche, Jr.

Third Advisor

David S. Kristol

Fourth Advisor

Dana E. Knox

Fifth Advisor

Yogi V. Shukla

Abstract

A mathematical model for the liquid-liquid equilibrium of the lanthanide and yttrium oxides in the nitric acid - water - tributyl phosphate (HNO3-H2O-TBP) two-phase system has been developed. This model is based on the interrelationships of chemical reactions, phase equilibrium, and material balance. The chemical reactions were modelled using experimentally derived empirical equations for components involved. The distribution coefficients of 16 rare earths which were experimentally determined. by UK Harwell Laboratory were used to evaluate the parameters of this equilibrium model. Once model parameters are determined, material balance for all species in the HNO3-H2O-TBP two-phase system can be accomplished simultaneously.

The developed equilibrium model was validated by a published experimental extraction system for the separation and purification of specific component from the mixture of lanthanide and yttrium elements.

This model was used for analyzing the minimum production cost of extraction systems for (1) separation and purification of europium from the lanthanide and yttrium mineral sample; and (2) purification of yttrium from the mixture of lutetium, ytterbium and yttrium.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.