Rare earth and yttrium phosphate solubilities in aqueous solution

Abstract

Rare earth and yttrium phosphate solubility products range over more than 1 order of magnitude. Minimum solubilities are observed for light rare earths between Ce and Sm. For the elements Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm solubility products (log K_sp⁰ (M) = log ([M_i³⁺] [PO₄³⁻])) at zero ionic strength and 25°C can be approximated as log K_sp⁰,(M) = −26.3 ± 0.2. Rare earth phosphate solubility products for well-aged, coarse precipitates increase substantially between Sm and Lu, with log K_sp⁰(Lu) estimated as −24.7. The solubility product of Y is similar to that of Ho (log K_sp⁰ (Y) = −25.0) and is much higher than those of all light rare earths. The solubility product of La is substantially larger than that of Cc (log K_sp⁰(La) − log K_sp⁰ (Ce) ≈ 0.5). Solubility products are strongly dependent on the conditions of solid phase formation. Fresh precipitates are much more soluble than slowly formed, well-aged, coarse precipitates. The pattern of rare earth and yttrium phosphate solubility products is generally similar to the fractionation patterns which are developed during phosphate coprecipitation.