Extraction Kinetics of Thorium(IV) with Primary Amine N1923 in Sulfate Media Using a Constant Interfacial Cell with Laminar Flow

Abstract

Extraction kinetics of thorium(IV) with primary amine N1923 in sulfate media has been investigated by a constant interfacial cell with laminar flow. Studies of interfacial tension and effects of the stirring rate, temperature, and specific interfacial area on mass transfer rate show that the most probable reaction zone takes place at the liquid‐liquid interface. According to the experimental data correlated as a function of the concentration of the relevant species involved in the extraction reaction, the rate equation of extracting thorium has been obtained as follows:

The kinetic mechanism of the extraction process is proposed taking an interfacial chemical reaction as the rate‐determining step of the overall reactions.

Keywords:

• Extraction kinetics
• thorium
• primary amine N1923
• constant interfacial cell

Acknowledgments

This project is supported by the National Program entitled “basic research on high efficiency utilization of rare earth elements in the field of environmental protection” (2004CB719506), Natural Science Foundation of China (20371046; 50574080).