稀土元素分离与提纯技术研究现状及展望

稀土元素是重要的战略资源,广泛应用于国防工业、电子行业、环境保护、新能源行业等领域,是高新技术产业发展中必需的重要原料。开发绿色、高效的稀土元素分离与提纯技术对中国稀土资源的高效综合利用具有重要意义。综述了分级结晶和分步沉淀法、离子交换法、萃取色层法以及溶剂萃取法等技术分离与提纯稀土元素的研究现状,分析了这几种方法的优缺点,阐述了溶剂萃取法、离子交换法和萃取色层法在稀土元素分离与提纯技术研究方面的不足,并展望了未来几种方法的发展方向。针对电子废物逐年增加的趋势,概述了稀土元素分离与提纯技术在含稀土电子废物(如废荧光粉、废旧氢-镍电池电极材料和钕铁硼废料)回收工艺中的应用研究进展。以期为制备单一高纯稀土元素提供理论依据,为实现稀土二次资源的回收利用,促进自然资源可持续利用提供技术借鉴。

A review on development and prospect of rare earth elements separation and purification technologies

Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical strategic resources,which widely used in the defense industry,electronics industry,environmental protection,new energy industries and other fields. It is an important and necessary material in the development of high and new technology industry. Developing green and efficient technology for the separation and purification of REEs is of great significance to the efficient and comprehensive utilization of rare earth resources in China. This paper systematically reviewed the progress of studies on REEs separation and purification technologies,such as fractional crystallization and fractional precipitation,ion exchange,extraction chromatography and solvent extraction. Advantages and disadvantages of these technologies were expounded in detail. The shortcomings of solvent extraction,ion exchange and extraction chromatography in the separation and purification of REEs were pointed out,and the development trends of these technologies in the future were proposed. Given the increasing trend of the electronic waste year by year,the progress of REEs separation and purification technologies application in the recycling process of REEs containing electronic waste,such as waste phosphors,spent nickel-metal hydride batteries,and the NdFeB magnet scraps,were introduced in this paper as well. The paper was expected to provide a theoretical basis for the preparation of single high- purity REEs and a technical guideline for recycling of secondary resources of REEs and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.