SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF N-OCTANOYL-4- METHYLPIPERDINE AS EXTRACTANT FOR Pr(III) IONS FROM SULFURIC ACID SOLUTION

N-octanoyl-4-methylpiperdine (NOMP), has been synthesized (as a novel extractant), before
being characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, 1H, and 13C-NMR.
Praseodymium [Pr(III)] extraction from sulfate medium has been investigated in batch systems. The effects
of different experimental parameters such as extractant concentration, initial solution pH, diluents,
equilibration time and temperature on extraction performance and principal factors affecting the stripping
efficiency have been determined. Quantitative Pr(III) extraction was achieved in 5 min with 0.08 M
NOMP in kerosene in four stages at aqueous: organic (A:O) phase ratio of 1:1 at equilibrium pH 1.6. The
thermodynamic study shows that the reaction is spontaneous, and exothermic. Nitric acid solutions (4 mol/
L) can be efficiently used for metal recovery and NOMP extractant can be recycled for at least 5 cycles
with limited decrease in extraction efficiency. Finally, an application of the proposed method Pr2O3
94.35 % is obtained from a rare earth concentrate of 5.38% Pr2O3 prepared industrially from Egyptian
chemical processing plant of monazite sand of the Nuclear Materials Authority.