PURPOSE: To separate and recover rare earth elements in an organic solvent phase and an aqueous phase with superior separability by supplying a solution containing various rare earth elements into a pulse column containing an emulsion of organic solvent phase and aqueous phase.
CONSTITUTION: An aqueous extract, such as dilute hydrochloric acid, is supplied from the top 11 of a pulse column 10 and an organic solvent is supplied from the bottom 12 of the column, and vibrations are applied to the whole solution to hold the inside of the column in an emulsive state. At this time, plural rare earth elements are incorporated into either of the aqueous extract or the organic solvent or an aqueous solution containing rare earth elements is supplied through the central part of the column 10 into the column to bring these rare earth elements into contact with the emulsion. The rare earth elements supplied into the column are efficiently separated into light rare earth elements and heavy rare earth elements and recovered in the aqueous extract phase and the organic solvent, respectively. Further, the aqueous extract and the organic solvent can be supplied into the column by providing mixer settlers 21, 22, and 23 to the top and bottom of the pulse column 10, respectively, and previously bringing the aqueous extract and the organic solvent into contact with each other via the above settlers.
MIKUNI FUMIO
SAKURAI FUMITAKA
OSHIMA JIRO
SATO MITSUGI
