Rubidium cesium extraction separation method and process

Rubidium and cesium are alkali metal elements, ranking 37th and 55th respectively in the periodic table. These two elements mainly exist in potash mines in nature, but also in some hot springs, salt lakes, seawater and other natural water bodies. Rubidium and cesium have similar chemical properties, and in industrial applications, they usually exist as a mixture. However, rubidium and cesium have different uses in certain fields of application, so it is necessary to separate them.

Rubidium and cesium extraction separation method
The extraction and separation of rubidium and cesium is a separation technology based on chemical principles. In this method, rubidium and cesium are selectively extracted from an aqueous phase into an organic phase using an organic solvent, and then the rubidium and cesium are separately extracted from the organic phase through a back-extraction process. The separation effect of this method mainly depends on the choice of organic solvent and the operating conditions. At present, the commonly used organic solvents include tributyl phosphate, trialkyl phosphine oxide, etc., and the use of LXC series centrifugal extractors has further accelerated the development process of extraction of rubidium and cesium.

Positive centrifugal extraction machine is mainly used in liquid-liquid extraction, organic phase washing and liquid-liquid two-phase separation (oil-water separation) and other sections. At present, centrifugal extraction machine is widely used in fine chemical industry (post-treatment section for synthesis of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and chemical intermediates), fermentation (organic acids, antibiotics, etc.), hydrometallurgy and environmental protection and other industries. It is quite different from traditional liquid-liquid extraction and separation equipment in working principle, it is a continuous high-speed precision mixing and rapid centrifugal separation process strengthening equipment. The equipment can be used alone or in multi-stage series, which can quickly realize countercurrent extraction and cross-flow extraction of different stages in industrial applications.

Rubidium and cesium extraction separation process
The ore leaching solution or brine stock solution (hereinafter collectively referred to as feed solution) and the extractant enter the extraction section according to a certain ratio. After multi-stage centrifugal extraction, the raffinate is collected into the residual water storage tank, and the loaded organic phase after extraction enters the water washing section. After multi-stage centrifugal water washing, the washing water flows into the residual water storage tank, and the loaded organic phase after washing enters the centrifugal reverse extraction section, the regenerated extractant obtained after reverse extraction enters the extractant storage tank for recycling, and the washing water and residual water enter the extraction section again after mixing, and the reverse water after reverse extraction is further treated and recycled as a reverse extractant.