Recovery of Rubidium and Cesium from Brines by Solvent Extraction

Abstract

Recovery of rubidium and cesium from brines by solvent extraction is of great significance to comprehensively utilize rubidium and cesium from the brine resources of salt lake brine, underground water and oil/gas field brine. Three kinds of extraction agents including phenols, crown ethers and other reagents used in domestic and overseas were summarized systematically, and the advantages and disadvantages were also demonstrated. The key problems existed in the extraction of rubidium and cesium from salt lake brines were pointed out, and the new trends in the future were also discussed.