Stepwise Chlorination-Chemical Vapor Transport Reactions for Bastnaesite Concentrate

Vapor phase extraction and mutual separation of rare earth (RE) elements from bastnaesite concentrate were investigated using stepwise chlorination-chemical vapor transport reactions mediated by vapor complexes LnAlnCl3n+3 (Ln=RE elements). The bastnaesite was heated to 800 K and chlorinated between 800～1300 K with C+Cl2+SiCl4 to remove CO2, SiF4 and high volatile chlorides. At the temperature of 1300 K for 6 h, the resulted RE chlorides were chemically transported and mutual separated with the vapor complexes while CaCl2 and BaCl2 were remained in the residues. Significantly different CVT characteristics were observed for gradually decreased and wave form temperature gradients