Continuous ion exchange separation of zirconium and hafnium
A pressurized continuous annular chromatograph (CAC) has been developed for truly continuous ion exchange preparative separations. This device utilizes a slowly rotating annular bed of sorbent material, fixed multiple feed points, and fixed withdrawal locations. Most of our investigations have been performed with a 28-cm-diam by 60-cm-long CAC, but a larger model has recently been designed and constructed. A detailed study has been made of the separation of copper, nickel, and cobalt components from a simulated carbonate leach liquor of the Caron process for recovering nickel and cobalt from laterite ores. Recent studies have investigated the ion exchange separation of zirconium and hafnium from a sulfate feed solution. Nuclear reactor-grade zirconium, containing < 0.01 wt % hafnium, and hafnium, containing < 1% zirconium, have been continuously prepared using cation exchange resin in the pressurized CAC. This device, because of its continuous feed and product withdrawal, its adaptability to largescale operations, and its ability to separate many components, is expected to make chromatography a more competitive process in the industrial sector.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 6644933
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-810203-3; TRN: 81-004808
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: AIME annual meeting, Chicago, IL, USA, 22 Feb 1981
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
HAFNIUM
ION EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY
ZIRCONIUM
CATIONS
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
MEDIUM PRESSURE
RESINS
SULFURIC ACID
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHROMATOGRAPHY
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
IONS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLYMERS
REFRACTORY METALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
400105* - Separation Procedures