Selective extraction of molybdenum (VI) with novel ionic liquid from nitric acid solution

ABSTRACT

The novel ionic liquid [Aliq–336]⁺[HCit]⁻ is produced by the reaction of tricaprylylmethyl ammonium chloride, Aliq–336, and tri-sodium citrate. In this investigation, the extraction of Mo(VI) from the nitric acid solution using ([Aliq-336]⁺[HCit]⁻) ionic liquid in toluene as a diluent was studied. The effects of various parameters on the extraction process such as shaking time, nitric acid concentration, ionic liquid concentration, hydrogen ion, nitrate ion, Mo(VI) concentration as well as temperature were evaluated. The loading capacity of the prepared ionic liquid was 0.078 mole of Mo(VI) per mole [Aliq-336]⁺[HCit]⁻. On the basis of IR spectra and the slope analysis method, the installation of the expected extracted metal species in the organic phase was found to be . As well, the average conditional extraction constant (K_Cex) for Mo(VI) extraction was 45.96 ± 3.5. The stripping percent of Mo(VI) reached the maximum value (exceeding 99.0%) with 0.5 mol/L sodium acetate as well as 1.0 mol/L of different mineral acids. Based on the obtained results, the prepared ionic liquid in toluene could be used for the effective extraction of molybdenum (VI) from a synthetic mixture of different metal ions found in fission products.

KEYWORDS:

• Extraction
• Mo(vi)
• Nitric acid
• [Aliq-336]⁺[HCit]⁻
• Ionic liquids

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Prime Novelty Statement

Molybdenum (VI) has extensive industrial and nuclear energy applications therefore its recovery with high purity from its ores and secondary resources have received increased attention from researchers. This recovered metal oxide can be used as a target for production of radioactive Mo-99 after neutron irradiation in the nuclear reactor to produce Tc-99 m radioactive generator for medical uses. MoO₃ may be also used for fuel cladding, reactor pipe work, low-corrosion stainless steel, and other alloys such as nickel-based super alloys, within the hydrodesulphurization of petroleum, engine lubrication in addition, uranium and molybdenum alloy in order to create advanced U-Mo nuclear fuel, therefore molybdenum regarded as one of the vital strategic metals in modern technology. The prepared ionic liquid was synthesized through a simple anion exchange of Cl⁻ in [Aliquat-336]⁺[Cl]⁻ and C₃O₇^3- in sodium citrate. This [Aliq–336]⁺[HCit]^– can be efficiently used for the purification of Mo(VI) ion from different metal ions (Co(II), Ni(II), Fe(III), Zr(IV), La(III),Nd(III), Sm(III), Y(III) and Cd(II)), which exist as fission and corrosion products. Its maximum loading of Mo(VI) is 0.078 mole per mole ionic liquid. The stripping percent of Mo (VI) reached the maximum value (exceeding 99%) by using 0.5 mol/L sodium acetate.