Process for producing a hafnium extraction scrub solvent

Patent · Tue Jul 28 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:6905781

Abodishish, H A; Leavitt, D J

This patent describes a process of making up an organic scrub solvent for use in a liquid-liquid extraction process wherein a mixed zirconium and hafnium oxychloride-containing aqueous solution is scrubbed with the organic scrub solvent to extract the hafnium from the aqueous solution, the improvement it comprises: countercurrently contacting an aqueous zirconium oxychloride-containing steam having a hafnium ion concentration of less than about 100 ppm with a barren organic solvent stream; adding hydrochloric acid to the aqueous zirconium oxychloride-containing steam to maintain a chloride anion concentration of a least about 1.6 Normal (as HCl) in the aqueous stream; and adding ammonium thiocyanate to the aqueous zirconium oxychloride-containing stream to produce thiocyanic acid; whereby the thiocyanic acid transfers to the barren organic solvent steam to produce a scrub solvent.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5133865
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-698439
• OSTI ID: 6905781
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ELEMENTS
EXTRACTION
HAFNIUM
HAFNIUM COMPOUNDS
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
OXYCHLORIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYHALIDES
PRODUCTION
REFRACTORY METAL COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SOLVENTS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS