Cerium Production

Monazite (cerium lanthanum thorium neodymium yttrium phosphate) is the main source mineral. It also may be found in apatites. At alkali splitting a mixture of metal oxides is yielded, from which CeO₂ is converting into (NH₄)₂[Ce(NO₃)₆]. The ammonium-cerium salt is extracted from other compounds by phosphoric ester (the ester of phosphoric acid), then it is analyzed at 180°C with output of pure cerium dioxide. After that CeO₂ is converted into CeF₃ which is electrolyzed into pure cerium.