Selective Scandium Elution from D2EHPA-Impregnated Ion-Exchange Resin After Metal Loading from Acidic Chloride Solutions

This paper investigates the elution behavior of scandium from D₂EHPA (Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid)-impregnated resins that proceed with metal loading from acidic chloride solutions. D₂EHPA resins stem from their recognized selectivity for Sc extraction from acidic solutions. This study focuses on the elution process after ion-exchange extraction and examines various elution systems to achieve selective Sc recovery. Among the tested elution media, fluoride-based systems were proven effective for Sc desorption. The elution of the resins was demonstrated in a column set-up, where complete and selective elution of Sc was achieved. Τhis study contributes to the advancement of Sc extraction methods from chloride solutions, offering valuable insights for industrial applications, especially emphasizing the importance of optimizing the elution step for achieving efficient recovery of Sc.