Simulation of the development automatization control system for rare earth extraction process: Combination of ESRECE simulation software and EDXRF analysis technique Original Research Article

Recently, the requirement of developing the automatic control for rare earth extraction processes has been attracting a lot of attention. However, due to the similarity of chemical physical properties of rare earth, the separation of these elements requires a great number of stages of mixer-settles. The multistage countercurrent extraction system, consisted of two immiscible flowing phases—the organic phase and the aqueous phase and the variable composition take place stage by stage. This plant generally requires a continuous control the status of the separation process and its efficacy, in order to prevent appearing an ‘out-of-specification product’ or a high raffinate value. For studying the steady or dynamic performance of stage-wise processes, and establishing the relative controlling system, the on-line EDXRF analytical technique and ESRECE simulation system were used in our laboratory.