Ion-Exchange Methods of Scandium Recovery from the Ores of the Tomtor Deposit

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Abstract—The extraction of scandium from a nitric acid solution after pressure leaching of the hydrate cake that forms upon processing the ore of the Tomtor deposit is studied. The main technological laws of scandium sorption and extraction using various absorbers under static and dynamic conditions are investigated. To extract scandium, we recommend using phosphorus-containing cation exchanger Purolite D5041 and a mixture of extraction agents 7.5% Cyanex 923 + 15% tributyl phosphate in kerosene. The developed technologies make it possible to extract scandium and radioactive elements almost completely with the formation of a collective concentrate containing 2–3% Sc, 7–10% Th, and 0.3% U. Our data can be used to develop a technology of industrial scandium recovery after the extraction of thorium and uranium by the well-known methods.