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Abstract: Mutual separation characteristics for a series of rare earth elements Sc, Y, La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Ho and Er from their binary oxide mixtures Er2O3–Sc2O3, Er2O3–Y2O3, Er2O3–La2O3, Er2O3–Nd2O3, Er2O3–Sm2O3, Er2O3–Gd2O3 and Er2O3–Ho2O3 has been investigated using a stepwise chlorination-chemical vapor transport (SC-CVT) reaction mediated by vapor complexes KLnCl4. The total transported yield of the chlorides produced from the oxide mixtures was in the order of ErCl3 >ScCl3, ErCl3 >YCl3, ErCl3 >LaCl3, ErCl3 >NdCl3, ErCl3 >SmCl3, ErCl3 >GdCl3 and HoCl3 >ErCl3, and the total separation factors are 13.0 for Er:Sc, 1.49 for Er:Y, 1.48 for Er:La, 1.15 for Er:Nd, 2.33 for Er:Sm, 2.72 for Er:Gd and 1.10 for Ho:Er. The largest separation factors 1213.8 for Er:Sc, 6.37 for Er:Y, 189.3 for Er:La, 100.6 for Er:Nd, 105.7 for Er:Sm, 27.8 for Er:Gd and 1.14 for Er:Ho in the lower temperature region, while 102.7 for La:Er, only 14.3 for Nd:Er, 16.7 for Sm:Er, 4.0 for Gd:Er and 2.04 for Ho:Er in the higher temperature region were observed, respectively. The results showed the obvious divergence effect of Gd both in the largest separation factors, the total separation factors and total transport efficiency. Furthermore, the results were discussed on the difference of ionic radius of Sc and Y on the one side and the lanthanoid elements of La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Ho and Er on the other hand, and verified that the ionic radius is one of the decisive factors only for lanthanide elements, not for Sc and Y. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mutual separation characteristics for binary oxide mixtures Y2O3–Dy2O3, Y2O3–Er2O3 and Ho2O3–Er2O3, in which these four kinds of rare earth ion(III) have very similar ion radius values, using a stepwise chlorination–chemical vapor transport (SC–CVT) reaction mediated by vapor complexes KLnCl4 have been investigated in different temperature gradients. The unexpected results, together with that for Y2O3–Ho2O3 reported previously, are used to make a comparative analysis for the effect of ion radius values on the SC–CVT reaction for mutual separation of rare earths. Both the main deposition temperature region tendency and total transport amounts of chlorides for YCl3 with respect to the ion radius of Y(III) were exceptional compared with those of LnCl3 (Ln=Dy, Ho and Er), which were observed both in the degressive temperature gradient and the wave-type temperature gradient. The main deposition temperature of the chlorides produced from the oxide mixtures was in the order of DyCl3>YCl3, HoCl3ErCl3, total transported yields of the chlorides was in the order of DyCl3>YCl3, HoCl3>YCl3, ErCl3>YCl3 and HoCl3>ErCl3, and the largest separation factors 11.49 for Dy:Y, 15.28 for Ho:Y, 6.37 for Er:Y and 2.04 for Ho:Er in the lower temperature region were observed in the degressive temperature gradient, respectively. The results were discussed on the difference of ionic structure of Y on the one side and 4f lanthanoid elements of Dy, Ho and Er on the other hand, and verified that the ionic radius of the rare earth is one of the decisive factors of CVT reaction only for lanthanoid elements, not for Y. Furthermore, the improved separation factor values of 4.22 for Ho:Er and 3.20 for Er:Ho were obtained in the wave type temperature gradient due to variation of the dynamic conditions of CVT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]