Metallurgical processes for the recovery and recycling of lanthanum from various resources—A review

Abstract

Various processes for the recovery of lanthanum from metallurgical and non-metallurgical resources are reviewed. Lanthanum is present as a major constituent of monazite, fluorocarbonate ores, bauxite and associated residues, tailings and waste liquors of rare earths, aluminium, etc. Phosphate rock, optical glasses and Ni-MH batteries serve as the most recent and high concentration secondary resources of lanthanum. This review discusses the various methods of hydro-/pyro-metallurgical origin, leaching, solvent extraction, precipitation and other pre-treatment options for lanthanum recovery. A separate section on recovery of lanthanum by selective biosorption from various model and actual solutions is also included. The need to develop new extraction systems with high lanthanum selectivity in the areas of leaching and solvent extraction are probable improvement trend for the future.