Samarium Production

Concentrate which contains samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium and other rare earth elements are separated by extraction, ion exchange sorption, or by combination methods along with europium selective reduction. Samarium is precipitated from obtained by these methods as carbonate or oxalate after which roasted until Sm₂O₃.

Metallothermic reduction of Sm₂O₃ by lanthanum of mish metal in vacuum at 1600°C is the main method of samarium extraction; carbothermal preparation is also applicable.