Anion enhancement of the extraction of zirconium by aliquat-336 from chloride media

Abstract

In aqueous chloride media above 2M acid the extraction of zirconium ions by Aliquat-36 depends solely on the total chloride ion concentration, and is independent of the hydrogen ion or lithium ion concentration. For total chloride ion concentrations between 6M and 8M the addition of small amounts of nitrate ion greatly enhances the extraction of zirconium by Aliquat-336. This enhancement is a maximum at between 0.5 and 0/75M nitrate ion in the aqueous phase. This effect is also independent of hydrogen ion or lithium ion concentration. It is postulated that the species being extracted is [ArC15NO3]2-. These results are preliminary to selecting the optimum conditions for the extraction of zirconium, and also for the separation of zirconium from hafnium by a liquid anion exchange process.