Zr–Hf separation of zirconium oxychloride products using Tributyl Phosphate (TBP) in kerosene

Abstract

Using salt addition and TBP in kerosene as extractant, zirconium and hafnium was separated. The extraction feed, zirconium oxychloride, was produced by synthesizing melted Kalimantan zircon sand concentration with NaOH. Chloride-based metals have been extracted by dissolving them into a nitric acid media containing salt (sodium nitrate, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, and sodium sulphate). The current research investigated such as variations in the concentration of nitric acid, composition changes in the aqueous phase and organic phase, modifications in the time of contact, and effect of salt addition for zirconium and hafnium separation. For the chemical composition evaluation of Zr and Hf, XRF was performed. The findings showed that, under optimal conditions, zirconium and hafnium could be separated using sodium nitrate, 1:5 organic/aqueous ratio, 75 min contact period, and 7 M HNO₃ concentration. Using TBP in Kerosene, the zirconium and hafnium separation factor determined was 13.8831.