Solvent extraction of zirconium(IV) from acid chloride solutions using LIX 84-IC

Solvent extraction (SX) of Zr(IV) from low acidic chloride solutions has been carried out with LIX 84-IC (2-hydroxy-5-nonylacetophenoneoxime) as an extractant. The extraction mechanism varies with acid concentration. At low acid (<1 M), it follows ion exchange type mechanism: MO(aq)2++2 HA(org)↔MOA2(org)+2H(aq)+ where, M=Zr(IV); HA=LIX 84-IC. Plots of log D vs. log [H+] gave a straight line with a negative slope of 1.7, indicating the exchange of two moles of hydrogen ions and log D vs. log [extractant], M were linear with slope 1.7, indicating the association of two moles of extractant with the extracted metal species. With the addition of sodium salts, the percentage extraction of metal follows the order Na2SO4>NaSCN>NaNO3>NaCl. Stripping of metal from the loaded organic (L.O) with HCl, H2SO4 and extraction behavior of associated metals such as Hf, Ti, Al, Fe was studied.