Extraction of bivalent vanadium as its pyridine thiocyanate complex and separation from uranium, titanium, chromium and aluminium

A simple method is described for the extraction of V(II) as its pyridine thiocyanate complex. Vanadate is reduced to V(II) in 1 to 2 N sulphuric acid by zinc amalgam. Thiocyanate and pyridine are added, the solution is adjusted to pH 5.2 to 5.5 and the complex extracted with chloroform. The vanadium is back-extracted with peroxide solution. Zinc from the reductant accompanies the vanadium but alkali and alkaline earth metal ions, titanium, uranium, chromium and aluminium are separated, besides those ions reduced to the elements by zinc amalgam. The method takes about 20 min and is applicable to microgram as well as milligram amounts of vanadium. (author)