LAUSR

Abstract The bastnaesite used in hydrometallurgy usually contains 7%–11% fluorine, and the conversion of fluorine into high-value products is the key to achieving green production of rare earths and improving the comprehensive utilization of bastnaesite. In order to recover fluorine from bastnaesite in the form of KBF4, the mechanism of F− conversion to BF 4 − in sulphuric acid leaching solution of roasted bastnaesite was studied by using Eh–pH diagram and simulation experiment. It shows that the formation of BF 4 − is affected by pH in the absence of rare earths. BF 4 − is hydrolyzed to BF3OH− and F− when the pH is greater than 3.9, and part of F− exists as HF 2 − when pH is lower than 2. In the presence of La3+, the formation of BF 4 − is mainly affected by LaF3 when pH is greater than 0, and in the case that the pH is lower than 2, it is mainly affected by HF 2 − . When Ce4+ is present in solution, CeF 2 2 + can exist stably in sulphuric acid solution. Bringing down the pH can reduce the stability of CeF 2 2 + and increase the BF 4 − conversion rate. Based on these results, KBF4 was prepared in the alkaline solution of bastnaesite, and the conversion of BF 4 − is 84.31%. This provides a theoretical basis for the recovery of fluorine from bastnaesite in the form of KBF4.