BACKGROUNDFor the first time, N,N-dihexyloxamic acid (HA) has been developed to extract La, Ce and Pr from hydrochloric acid solution in present work. RESULTSLa, Ce and Pr can be extracted by HA in the pH range 1.3 to 2.0 using heptane as diluent. The extraction order was La < Ce < Pr. The separation factors were calculated to be 1.8 for La/Ce and for Ce/Pr. Based on slope analysis, all the rare earths (REs) were loaded in the form of REsCl(0.6)A(2.4)(HA)(0.6) that may be a statistical expression of a mixture of complexes. Stripping tests showed that the loaded organic phase can be stripped by hydrochloric acid at medium acidity. CONCLUSIONThe extraction results obtained in the study suggest that N,N-dihexyloxamic acid could serve as an effective extractant for La, Ce and Pr. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry