• Resources Recycling
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• v.16 no.2 s.76
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• pp.23-31
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• 2007

In this study, the crystallization of neodymium carbonate from neodymium chloride solution by addition of ammonium bicarbonate was investigated. The concentration of reactants such as neodymium chloride and ammonium bicarbonate, and reaction temperature play an important part in order to obtain the crystal of neodymium carbonate. It seemed that amorphous neodymium carbonate was prepared by aggregation of primary particles formed through nucleation. If reaction rate was increased by increasing the concentration of reactants and reaction temperature, then neodymium carbonate crystal could be obtained. Lanthanite-type neodymium carbonate[$Nd_2(CO_3)_3{\cdot}8H_2O$] and tengerite-type neodymium carbonate[$Nd_2(CO_3)_3{\cdot}2.5H_2O$] could be obtained with reaction renditions. Lanthanite-type neodymium carbonate was sensitive to temperature. The thermal decomposition of neodymium carbonate contained the processes or dehydration, decarbonation and crystalization of $Nd_2O_3$. The shape of lanthanite-type neodymium carbonate was irregular lump type, and tengerite-type neodymium carbonate had the shape of needle type. The shape of $Nd_2O_3$ was affected by the shape of neodymium carbonate.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.29-35
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• 2018

In this study, the electrochemical redox behavior of neodymium in non-aqueous electrolytes was investigated to confirm the possibility of neodymium metallurgy at room temperature. The non-aqueous electrolytes include ionic liquids such as $[C_4mim]PF_6$, $[C_4mim]Cl$, and $[P_{66614}]PF_6$, ethanol which are highly soluble in neodymium salts, and mixed electrolytes based on carbonate with highly electrochemical stability. The electrochemical redox properties of neodymium were better than those of other electrolytes in the case of the mixed electrolyte based on ethylene carbonate (EC)/di-ethylene carbonate (DEC). Ethanol was added to improve the physical properties of the mixed electrolyte. Thorough the analysis about ionic conductivity of EC/DEC ratio, ethanol content and $NdCl_3$ concentration, the best electrolyte composition was 50 vol% content of ethanol and 0.5 M of $NdCl_3$. Using cyclic voltametry and linear sweep voltametry, a current peak estimated at -3.8 V (vs. Pt-QRE) was observed as a limiting current of neodymium reduction. Potentiostatic electrolysis for 18 hours at room temperature at -6 V (vs. Pt-QRE) confirmed that metallic neodymium was electrodeposited.