Selective extraction of zirconium (IV)‎ from hafnium (IV)‎ Using Tri-n-Butylphosphate as extractant

Abstract EN

The extraction of zirconium (IV) from hafnium (IV) using tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) in kerosene has been investigated.

Different parameters affecting the extraction of Zr (IV) from Hf (IV) from nitrate solutions such as TBP, Zr (IV), HNO3, nitrate, concentration, shaking time, as well as the effect of temperature were studied.

The maximum extraction results were obtained at 6 M HNO3 and 1 M Mg(NO3)2 which led to an extraction percentage of 99.7 % for Zr and 52.1 % for Hf.

The extraction percent of Zr and Hf increased by increasing the shaking time, TBP, HNO3, nitrate concentraion and temperature.

The stripping of the extracted zirconium and hafnium from the loaded organic solution was also carried out using different concentrations of HNO3.