Extraction and Separation of Zirconium(IV) and Hafnium(IV) from Chloride Media Using Magnetic Resin with Phosphoric Acid Functionality

Abstract

Glycidyl methacrylate/divinylbenzene (GMA/DVB) resin modified by embedded magnetite was prepared. The resin was immobilized with phosphoric acid functionality and used to recover Zr(IV) and Hf(IV) from aqueous solutions using batch and column techniques. The resin obtained was investigated by means of infrared (IR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and environmental scanning electron microscope ESEM. The measurements showed that the particles of Fe₃O₄ became completely coated with a film of the resin. The resin containing magnetite particles displayed a higher uptake capacity compared to the magnetite-free one. Uptake values of 0.94 and 0.24 mmol/g were recorded for Zr(IV) and Hf(IV). Both kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption process were calculated. The loaded resin with metal ions was regenerated using 1 M HNO₃ with efficiency of 93.3% and 98.4% for Zr(IV) and Hf(IV), respectively.

Keywords:

• Extraction
• hafnium
• ion exchange
• magnetic resins
• zirconium