Precipitation of strontium and barium phosphates from alkali chloride based melts containing rare earth metal ions.

Reaction of sodium orthophosphate, Na3PO4, with NaCl–KCl–LaCl3–BaCl2, NaCl–KCl–LaCl3–SrCl2, NaCl– KCl–GdCl3–BaCl2, NaCl–KCl–CsCl–LaCl3–BaCl2 and LiCl–KCl–LaCl3–BaCl2 melts was studied at 1023 and 823 K. Phosphates formed under various conditions were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. Particle size distribution curves of precipitated phosphates were measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]