Extraction of zirconium(IV) from HCl solutions by mixtures of Aliquat-336 and Alamine-336 with TBP

Synergism has been observed in the extraction of zirconium(IV) by mixtures of Aliquat 336 or Alamine 336 with a neutral donor TBP from aq. HCl solutions. Although the extractant dependency for Zr(IV) is found to be nearly second power with respect to TBP alone, monosolvate is found to be formed for extraction by its mixture with Aliquat 336 or Almine 336. Quantitative extraction is observed with mixtures at a lower acidity than that with individual extractants. The species formed is tentatively assigned to be Q₂ZrCl₆. TBP, where for Aliquat 336 and for Alamine 336.     

Extraction and separation of Zr,Nb and Hf by Aliquat 336 and its mixtures with TOPO from acidic thiocyanate media

Presence of thiocyanate ions results in appreciable extraction of Zr(IV) by Aliquat 336 from low aqueous HCl acidities, i.e., 0.1 to 4.5M. The variation of concentrations of HCl, thiocyanate and Aliquat 336 greatly influences the extent of extraction. Mixtures of Aliquat 336 and TOPO result in synergistic extraction of Zr and Hf from acidic thiocyanate media, the extracted species being the disolvate with TOPO. By controlled adjustment of HCl, SCN^– and Aliquat 336 concentrations, separation of Zr, Nb and Hf is possible. A maximum separation factor (D_Nb/D_Zr) of 3675 has been achieved under certain conditions.     

Separation of Zr from Hf in acidic chloride solutions by using TOPO and its mixture with other extractants

Liquid–liquid extraction of Zr and Hf from chloride solutions was performed by using TOPO extractant in kerosene. An effective extraction of Zr from Hf was achieved selectively at 2.5–3 M HCl condition. Moreover, a mixture of TOPO with DOS, D2EHPA, Aliquat 336, Alamine 336 and Alamine 308 were tested in order to investigate the extraction behavior of Zr and Hf. The mixture of TOPO and D2EHPA was found to increase the extraction of Zr and Hf. In the extraction by the mixture of TOPO and amine, the extraction percentage of Zr and Hf was decreased with the increase of amine concentration due to the preferential extraction of HCl. Finally, among the mixtures of TOPO and other extractants tested in this study, the TOPO alone system was found to be better for the mutual separation of Zr and Hf in hydrochloric acid media.     

Extraction of zirconium(IV) from hydrochloric acid solutions by tri-octylamine and neutral donors

Solvent extraction of Zr(IV) from aqueous HCl solutions by mixtures of TOA and different organophosphorous bases in carbontetrachloride solvent have been found to be always higher than that by any single extractant. Synergism has been observed in the range of 2.4–9.6M HCl. Although the species extracted with neutral donor alone seems to be ZrCl₄·TOPO etc, with a mixture of extractants, however, the extracted species appears to be Q₂ZrCl₆·TOPO where Q is R₃NH. The extraction has also been found to increase with increase in the concentration of amines and neutral donors. Enhancement of extraction has been explained by the formation of a complex adduct in organic phase. Synergistic coefficients and apparent formation constants of the complex adducts have also been calculated.     

Solvent extraction of zirconium from hydrochloric acid solutions by sulphoxides and their mixtures

The solvent extraction of zirconium from HCl solutions by dipentyl sulphoxide (DPSO), dioctyl sulphoxide (DOSO), tributyl phosphate (TBP), and their mixtures in various solvents has been studied. At a given H⁺ strength, the extraction coefficient η of the metal increases with an increase in Cl⁻ activity whereas it is almost independent of H⁺ at constant Cl⁻. Under otherwise identical conditions, η increases with an increase in the extractant concentration but is virtually independent of the metal ion concentration over a wide range. The species extracted are ZrCl₄·DPSO, ZrCl₄·DOSO, and ZrCl₄·2TBP. In the case of mixtures, the slope of the log η−log M extractant plot for one component decreases with an increase in the concentration of the second component, the lines crossing at a common point. Extraction is favoured by solvents of low dielectric constant. It is possible to separate zirconium from thorium and uranium by solvent extraction with sulphoxides.     

Separation of niobium and tantalum through solvent extraction and reversed phase extraction chromatography using Aliquat 336 as an anion exchanger

Niobium and tantalum which have close chemical similarities have been separated through two different methods, viz. solvent extraction and reversed phase extraction chromatography (RPEC) in tracer scale using Aliquat 336 as a liquid anion exchanger. Quantitative extraction of tantalum in the organic phase from 0.05M HF solution by 5·10^–4M Aliquat 336 solution was achieved leaving niobium in the aqueous phase. In RPEC, hydrophobized kieselguhr impregnated with Aliquat 336 was used as the stationary phase in the column from which niobium was first eluted with 0.1M HF and then tantalum with 10M HNO₃ solution. The purity of the separated isotopes in both the procedures were verified by means of gamma-ray spectrometry.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of 233Pa(V) with Aliquat 336</p> </p>

Summary The extraction of protactinium with Aliquat 336 (methyl-tri-caprylyl ammonium chloride) in toluene, cyclohexane and chloroform from HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, HClO₄, HF and mixed HCl-HF media was investigated by radioactive tracer technique. Distribution ratios of protactinium between the aqueous solution and the organic phase were determined as a function of shaking time, concentrations of acid in aqueous solution phase, extractant concentration and type of diluents in the organic phase. Aliquat 336 can almost quantitatively extract protactinium from strong HCl solution. At the same time, small amounts of HF in HCl solutions have a strong effect on Pa distribution.</p> </p>     

Solvent extraction of uranium(VI) and separation of vanadium(V) from sulfate solutions using Alamine 336

The present scientific study on uranium(VI) solvent extraction and vanadium(V) separation from sulfate solutions using Alamine 336 as an extractant diluted in kerosene was established. The preliminary experiments indicating the uranium extraction process will follow the solvation as well as ion-exchange mechanisms. In the present acid region (0.1–1.0 mol dm⁻³ H₂SO₄) it showing the ion-exchange type mechanism. Time (1–120 min) and temperature (25–55 °C) not influencing the present extraction system. Other experimental parameters like loading capacity of Alamine 336, stripping of uranium from loaded organic phase, recycling of Alamine 336 and separation of uranium(VI)/vanadium(V) was studied.     

Synergistic solvent extraction of zirconium(IV)

The extraction of Zr(IV) by 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) in carbon tetrachloride from aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions is a slow process. The addition of a neutral extractant, di-n-pentyl sulfoxide (DPSO) enhances considerably the rate as well as the percentage of extraction. The species extracted appears to be ZrCl₂(TTA)₂·2 DPSO. An increase in temperature results in a further increase in the rate and percentage of extraction. Studies have also been carried out on the extraction of the metal by mixtures of various neutral extractants. Thermodynamic parameters associated with the formation of the synergistic adducts have been evaluated.     

Solvent extraction of uranium(VI) and molybdenium(VI) by Alamine 310 and its mixtures from aqueous H3PO4 solution

Liquid-liquid extraction of uranium (VI) from aqueous phosphoric acid solution by triisodecylamine (Alamine 310), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP), di-n-pentyl sulfoxide (DPSO) and their mixtures in benzene in the range 1–10M aqueous H₃PO₄ shows that extraction is maximum (80%) in the higher acidity range 6–8 M. Extraction of this metal ion by bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinicacid (Cyanex 301) and its mixtures studied in the range 0.2–1.0M aqueous H₃PO₄ is far from being quantitative. Antagonism in extraction by mixtures of extractants is observed in most of the cases. Extraction of molybdenum(VI) under identical conditions shows that it is quantitative in the lower acidity range upto 2M H₃PO₄. Separation of uranium(VI) from molybdenum(VI) is feasible by Alamine 310, TBP and DPSO, the order of efficiency being TBP>DPSO>Alamine 310.     

Extraction chromatography of common anions in liquid-liquid anion exchange systems. Part. III. Monobasic aliphatic organic acids and their sodium salts as eluants

Summary The chromatographic behaviour of anions on paper strips treated with tri-n-octylamine (TOA) salts or Aliquat 336 and developed with aqueous solutions of acetic, formic, monochloroacetic or trifluoroacetic acids and their sodium salts was investigated. Liquid-liquid extraction of organic acids by 0.1 M solution of TOA in benzene as well as the anion exchange between benzene solutions of TOA salts or Aliquat 336 (in acetate form) in benzene and aqueous solutions of sodium halides was also studied. It was found that extraction increases in the following order of the acids: CH₃COOOH<HCOOH<CH₂CICOOH<CF₃COOH; the relative affinity of organic anions to the quaternary alkyl-ammonium cation also increase in a similar order. The extraction of acid in excess over the amount necessary to neutralize the amine was observed for all four acids. The R_F values of anions investigated depend markedly on the type of organic acids or their salts and their concentration in the mobile phase. Halide ions are more strongly retained on paper treated with Aliquat 336 as compared with TOA salts. The chromatographic systems investigated offer many possibilities to separate various anion mixtures.Parts and II: refs. [1, 2].     

Synergic liquid-liquid extraction studies of neodymium and praseodymium with mixtures of tributyl phosphate and Aliquat-336 in nitrate media

Extraction studies of neodymium and praseodymium with mixtures of tributyl phosphate and Aliquat-336 in xylene have been carried out. From 3.0M aqueous ammonium nitrate solutions, negatively charged complexes of neodymium and praseodymium were extracted with Aliquat-336 in the presence of tributyl phosphate into the organic phase. The synergic extracted species observed was M(NO₃) ₄ ^– L⁺·TBP. The synergic extraction of lanthanide elements in nitrate media increases from lanthanum to lutetium.     

Solvent extraction of neptunium(IV) from nitric acid solutions by sulphoxides and their mixtures

Studies have been performed on the liquid-liquid extraction of neptunium from nitric acid solutions by di-n-hexylsulphoxide (DHSO) di-no-octylsulphoxide (DOSO) and di-iso-amylsulphoxide (DISO) and their mixtures over a wide range of conditions. At a given strength of the extractant, extraction of Np(IV) increases initially rapidly with increase in the acid concentration; at high acidities, above 8M HNO₃, the extraction decreases. Under otherwise identical conditions, extraction increases with an increase in the extractant concentration. The species extracted would appear to be Np(NO₃)₄·2(R₂SO). A mixture of two extractants extracts more than the sum of the extractions due to the individual components at concentrations corresponding to those of the mixture. After loading the organic phase with uranium(VI), extractability of Np(IV) becomes considerably lower. The diminution in extraction with increase in temperature is small. A comparison of the extraction behaviour of Np(IV) with those of Pu(IV), U(VI) and some associated fission products has been made.     

Mechanism for Solvent Extraction of Lanthanides from Chloride Media by Basic Extractants

The solvent extraction of lanthanides from chloride media to an organic phase containing an anion exchanger in the chloride form is known to show low extraction percentages and small separation factors. The coordination chemistry of the lanthanides in combination with this kind of extractant is poorly understood. Previous work has mainly used solvent extraction based techniques (slope analysis, fittings of the extraction curves) to derive the extraction mechanism of lanthanides from chloride media. In this paper, EXAFS spectra, luminescence lifetimes, excitation and emission spectra, and organic phase loadings of lanthanides in dry, water-saturated and diluted Aliquat 336 chloride or Cyphos IL 101 have been measured. The data show the formation of the hydrated lanthanide ion [Ln(H₂O)_8–9]³⁺ in undiluted and diluted Aliquat 336 and the complex [LnCl₆]^3? in dry Aliquat 336. The presence of the same species [Ln(H₂O)_8–9]³⁺ in the aqueous and in the organic phase explains the small separation factors and the poor selectivities for the separation of mixtures of lanthanides. Changes in separation factors with increasing chloride concentrations can be explained by changes in stability of the lanthanide chloro complexes in the aqueous phase, in combination with the extraction of the hydrated lanthanide ion to the organic phase. Finally, it is shown that the organic phase can be loaded with 107 g·L^?1 of Nd(III) under the optimal conditions.     

Membrane extraction for removal of acetic acid from biomass hydrolysates

Production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass requires pretreatment of the biomass in order to improve the susceptibility of the cellulose to enzymatic hydrolysis to glucose. When dilute acid is used to perform this process, the hemicellulose is also hydrolyzed to its component sugars while simultaneously releasing acetyl groups attached to the hemicellulose backbone. Other compounds from the lignin and sugar degradation products are also produced that inhibit subsequent bioconversion of the solubilized sugars to the desired products. In this work we focused on removal of acetic acid from a dilute sulphuric acid pretreated corn stover hydrolysate.Acetic acid has been extracted into an organic phase at pH values below its pK_a. The organic phase diluent consisted of octanol. Alamine 336, a tertiary amine and Aliquat 336 a quaternary amine were used as the aliphatic amine extractants. Our results indicate more than 60% removal of acetic acid using Alamine 336. Extraction rates were much slower for Aliquat 336 probably due to the higher viscosity of the Aliquat 336/octanol phase.The presence of sulphate anions, as a result of dilute sulphuric acid pretreatment, results in the co-extraction of bisulphate anion. Bisulphate anion is preferentially extracted at pH values below its pK_a. Consequently the pH of the hydrolysate increases from between 1 and 2 to above 4.0 during extraction. In addition, extraction of low molecular weight lignins and phenolics is also observed. Thus the membrane extraction process developed here may be used not only for removal of acetic acid but also to adjust the pH of the hydrolysate to values that are more compatible for fermentation and to remove other inhibitory compounds.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of copper (II) with dialkyl sulphoxides

The extraction behaviour of Cu(II) from hydrochloric acid and lithium chloride solutions with di-n-pentyl sulphoxide (DPSO) and di-n-octyl sulphoxide (DOSO) has been investigated over a wide range of conditions. At a given strength of the extradant, the extraction increases with increase in HCl and LiCl concentrations. The extraction of the metal also increases with increase in extractant concentration at constant [HCl] or [LiCl]. The species extracted would appear to be CuCl₂·2DPSO/2DOSO and CuCl ₄ ²⁻ ·2DPSO. The extraction of the metal decreases with increase in initial aqueous metal concentration and also with increase in temperature. The extraction also depends on the nature of the diluent employed.     

Synergistic extraction of tetravalent actinides by mixtures of a β-diketone and a sulfoxide

Synergistic extraction of tetravalent actinides, using mixtures of a β-diketone and several neutral organophosphorous extractants, was recently demonstrated. In this work the extraction of the ions Th(IV), Np(IV) and Pu(IV), from perchloric acid medium, by benzene solutions of a β-diketone, thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA), in combination with a neutral organosulfoxide donor, di-n-octyl sulfoxide (DOSO), has been investigated. Two methods viz. the slope analysis method and JOB's method have been employed for the study. The species mainly responsible for the observed synergism, with the M(IV) ions studied, was found to be M(TTA)₄·DOSO. The extraction and adduct formation equilibrium constants are given.     

Study of Cadmium Extraction with Aliquat 336 from Highly Saline Solutions

A large number of model solutions with high ionic strength were synthesised to mimic industrial conditions and were used as a first approach to study Cd extraction in the presence of chloride at high salinity, as experienced in real industrial solutions. The extractant used throughout in this work was Aliquat 336, a quaternary ammonium salt well known to the hydrometallurgical industry. The effects of some selected anions in addition to chloride (i.e., perchlorate, nitrate, and sulfate) were studied. The distribution of cadmium was measured using ¹⁰⁹Cd as a tracer. Liquid-scintillation spectroscopy quantified the concentration of ¹⁰⁹Cd in both phases. Raman and NMR spectroscopy were employed to gain further insight into the extraction chemistry. A careful analysis of all Cd extraction data showed that within specific windows of the reactant concentrations the chemical reactions could be represented by simplified equations, as discussed thoroughly in the text. Equilibrium constants for the extraction of \({\text{CdCl}}_{3}^{ - }\) from chloride and chloride/sulfate media were determined to be log₁₀K_ext?=?4.9?±?0.8 and log₁₀K_ext?=?5.7?±?0.5, respectively. For the nitrate environment, an exchange reaction involving a LiNO₃ ion pair is proposed and agrees with the experimental data, but was not proven. ¹⁴N-NMR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the relative affinity of Aliquat 336 for the relevant anions followed the order: perchlorate?>?nitrate?>?chloride?>?sulfate. Finally, ¹⁴N-NMR enabled the equilibrium constant of the exchange reaction between nitrate and chloride for Aliquat 336 to be determined.     

Solvent Extraction Separation of Zirconium (iv) With Anberlite LA - 1 From Citrate Solutions

Abstract

Zirconium was quantitatively extracted with 8 × 10^?2 M of Amberlite LA-1 or LA-2 xylene from 0.001 M citric acid at pH 3.5 and it was stripped from the organic phase with 2 M hydrochloric acid and was determined spectrophotometrically at 665 nm as its complex with arsenazo III. Zirconium was separated from binary as well as tertiary mixtures by exploiting the difference in the distribution coefficient or by selective extraction or selective stripping. The method was applied for the analysis of zircon.

Zirconium was extracted as its anionic complex with various mineral acids by liquid anion exchanger. The chlorocomplex of zirconium was extracted from 6–10 M hydrochloric acid with trioctylamine^1–5, triisooctylamine⁶ or Aliquat 3365⁷. The sulphotocomplex of zirconium was extracted with Aliquat 3365⁸, Primine JMT⁹, Alamine 336¹⁰. The nitratocomplex was less extensively utilised for the extractive separation of zirconium^{11, 12}.

Zirconium was extracted quantitatively from oxalate^{13, 14} and malonate media¹⁵. These extractions were carried out at low pH and separated zirconium from large number of associated elements. The ion exchange chromatographic behaviour of zirconium on column with cation exchange^16–17 or with anion exchange¹⁸ resin with citric acid as eluent were utilised but extraction studies from citrate solutions were never attempted.

From the critical study of existing methods it was observed that zirconium was extracted at narrow pH range; with high concentration of complexing ligand for extraction with liquid anion exchangers and long period of equilibration for extraction as well as stripping. So also such extractions were possible mostly at milligram concentrations involving use of hazardous diluents like benzene. In order to circumvent these difficulties an attempt was made to develop a better method for the solvent extraction separation of zirconium by ion pair formation.

Therefore this paper presents systematic investigations on the solvent extraction separation of zirconium from citrate media with liquid anion exchangers. From the study of various factors. The optimum conditions for the extraction and the separation of zirconium from associated elements are evaluated. The method has been extended for the analysis of zirconium from zircon.     

Effect of binary extractants and modifier–diluents systems on equilbria of propionic acid extraction

Propionic acid is an important carboxylic acid widely used in chemical industries. The recovery from aqueous waste streams and fermentation broth is of research interest. Extraction of carboxylic acids by reactive extraction using extractant-diluent, mixed extractants in diluents and extractants in mixed diluents etc. are emerging areas of study. With this aim reactive extraction of propionic acid was carried out to study: (i) effect of binary extractants (tri-n-octylamine(TOA):tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP), TOA:Aliquat 336 and TBP:Aliquat 336), (ii) effect of modifier (1-decanol) in different diluents (kerosene, n-octane, n-heptane, petroleum ether, butyl acetate, MIBK, 2-octanol, dodecanol, hexane) and (iii) effect of phase volume. Improved extractions using binary extractants and binary diluents were observed. Since liquid–liquid extraction is dependent on effect of modifier concentration, effect of phase volume, presence of single or binary extractants and binary diluents, the study will be useful in the design of reactive extraction process for propionic acid recovery.