Solvent-Impregnated Resins Based on the Mixture of (2-Diphenylphosphoryl)-4-ethylphenoxy)methyl) diphenylphosphine Oxide and Ionic Liquid for Nd(III) Recovery from Nitric Acid Media

Novel solvent-impregnated resins (SIRs) were prepared by treatment of styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer (LPS-500) with mixtures of the promising polydentante extractant (2-diphenylphosphoryl)-4-ethylphenoxy)methyl)diphenylphosphine oxide (L) and an ionic liquid [C(4)mim](+)[Tf(2)N](−)for the extraction chromatography recovery of Nd(III) from nitric acid solutions. It was shown that introduction of the ionic liquid into the SIR composition results in considerable enhancement of the Nd(III) recovery efficiency compared with resin impregnated only by L in slightly acidic media. The influence of the L: ionic liquid molar ratio in the SIRs composition, their percentages, concentration of metal and HNO(3) in the eluent, and acid type on the value of synergistic effect and adsorption efficiency of Nd(III) recovery was studied. The SIR containing 40% of mixture of L and [C(4)mim](+)[Tf(2)N](−) with molar ratio 2:1 turned out to be the most efficient. The selectivity of Nd(III) separation from light and heavy rare-earth elements was studied and the optimal conditions of Nd(III) adsorption recovery and stripping by this SIR were chosen. It was found that in recovery efficiency of Nd(III) developed SIR exceeded the SIR containing Cyanex 923 (a mixture of monodentate trialkylphosphine oxides) and [C(4)mim](+)[Tf(2)N](−).