SEPARATION OF HAFNIUM FROM ZIRCONIUM BY SELECTIVE REDUCTION OF ZIRCONIUM TETRACHLORIDE WITH ALUMINIUM

Technical Report · Sat Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4291066

Prakash, B; Sundaram, C V

Thermodynamic calculations indicate that the formation of the di- and trichlorides of zirconium by aluminum reduction of gaseous zirconium tetrachloride is a highly feasible reaction. Although no reliable thermodynamic data on the free energy of formation of the lower chlorides of hafnium are available, the general behavior of transition elements suggests that as the atomic number increases, their lower valency compounds become increasingly unstable. In that case, reduction of the mixed tetrachlorides should yield the comparatively nonvolatile lower zirconium chlorides leaving the hafnium tetrachloride mostly unchanged. This investigation was undertaken to examine the feasibility of this process. The results indicate that at temperatures in the range 300 deg to 400 deg C, the method provides an effective means of hafnium removal for obtaining reactor-grade zirconium. Theoretical considerations and the process details are discussed. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay, India
• NSA Number: NSA-13-006389
• OSTI ID: 4291066
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/1672
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALUMINUM
ATOMS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
ELECTRONS
EQUATIONS
FREE ENERGY
GASES
HAFNIUM
MIXING
REDUCTION
REFINING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STABILITY
TABLES
TEMPERATURE
THERMODYNAMICS
USES
VALENCE
VOLATILITY
ZIRCONIUM
ZIRCONIUM CHLORIDES