Solvent Extractive Separation of Zirconium and Hafnium from Hydrochloric Acid Solutions by Organophosphorous Extractants and Their Mixtures with Other Types of Extractants

From 1 to 4 M HCl medium, zirconium was selectively extracted over hafnium by organophosphorous extractants (D2EHPA, PC88A, Cyanex 272). In order to increase the separation factor Zr/Hf, mixtures of organophosphorous extractants with amines (Alamine 336, Aliquat 336) or cationic extractants (Versatic acid 10, LIX 63) were employed in 1–4 M HCl medium. Mixtures with Versatic acid 10 and LIX 63 led to depression in the extraction percentages. But the mixture with LIX 63 was found to be the most effective in separating the two metals among the extractant systems tested in this study. The highest separation factor of around 9.5 was obtained with a mixture of 0.01 M LIX 63 + 0.05 M Cyanex 272 at HCl concentration of 2–4 M. The Zr and Hf were effectively stripped from the loaded mixture of LIX 63 + Cyanex 272 by sulfuric acid solution.