中国科学院院士徐光宪是中国稀土化学的奠基人之一，他建立并发展了稀土串级萃取理论与工艺优化设计，为中国稀土工业获取高纯度的单一稀土元素作出贡献，实现了中国稀土产量的飞跃，被国际稀土界称为“中国冲击（China Impact）”。通过徐光宪对其进行稀土萃取分离研究与应用的自我回顾，反映了科学家、政府和企业在稀土分离研究、分离工艺和稀土产业的发展等领域扮演的不同角色，稀土萃取分离研究在本土取得创新的方式，以及稀土产业缺乏专利保护遭遇的困境。

Xu Guangxian is a leading scientist in rare earth chemistry and separation technology. He established a new theory of countercurrent extraction in 1970s, which is applicable for separation of a mixture with more than ten components such as rare earths. Based on his theory, he built up a new extraction separation flow sheet, which has been extensively used in the major rare earth separation factories in China with great success. In this paper, Xu Guangxian described his research experience on rare earth and their separation technology. The method for science and innovation and patent protection were discussed.