Synthesis, characterization, and physico-chemical aspects of a new PVC-based quaternary triethanol ammonium chloride anionite for tungsten recovery.

The usability of polyvinyl chloride-based quaternary triethanol ammonium chloride anionite (PVC-TEAC) as a potential extractant for tungstate was investigated to recover tungstate from Gabal Qash Amir, Egypt, assaying 70.91% WO₃. Structure elucidation for PVC-TEAC anionite was successfully carried out using several techniques. Experimental measurements, such as pH, agitation time, initial tungsten concentration, anionite dose, co-ions, temperature, and eluting agents, have been optimized. It was found that PVC-TEAC anionite has a maximum capacity of 63 mg per gram. From the distribution isotherm modeling, Langmuir's model fits the experimental results better than Freundlich's, with a theoretical value of 61.728 mg g^-1. According to kinetic modeling, the first- and second-order modeling may be regarded as a mixed modeling for a successful adsorption system. Thermodynamic prospects reveal that the adsorption process was predicted as an exothermic, spontaneous, and preferable adsorption at low temperatures. Tungsten ions can be eluted from the loaded anionite, by 1M H₂SO₄ with a 97% efficiency rate. It was found that PVC-TEAC anionite reveals good separation factor (S.F.) towards most of co-ions. A successful Alkali fusion with NaOH flux followed by tungstate recovery by PVC-TEAC anionite is used to obtain a high-purity tungsten oxide concentrate (WO₃), with a tungsten content of 78.3% and a purity of 98.75%.