Preparation of Highly Pure Y2O3 from Rees Concentrate of Gabal El-Faliq Granitoid Rocks, South Eastern Desert, Egypt.

The present work aims to study the processing characteristics of the geologic ore material under consideration to prepare leach liquor suitable for the recovery of highly pure Y oxide concentrate. Ammonium sulfate roasting method was applied upon the study geologic ore material and selectively recovers 88.6% of total REEs. Several roasting parameters were investigated to optimize the selective dissolution of REEs. Since, from the foregoing results, it can be concluded that, the maximum dissolution efficiency, % of REEs from Gabal (G.) El-Faliq ore material by roasting with (NH4)2SO4 was conducted at Solid/Reagent ratio: 1/2, Roasting time: 2 hrs. and Roasting temperature: 600°C.
From the latter, 91% of Y content from prepared RE(NO3)3 solution using 2M TBP, has
been recovered at pH of 1.5 by using 2M of TBP / Kerosene for 9 min. as contact time
and O/A ratio of 1/1. More than 98% of the loaded Y was regenerated using 3M HR2RSOR4R
at A/O ratio of 2/1 and contact time of 25 min. From the latter, highly pure Y2O3 Rwas
prepared after oxalate precipitation.