Separation of zirconium from hafnium by ion exchange

Zirconium and hafnium are two of the most important metals for the nuclear industry. Hafnium occurs in all zirconium ores usually in the range 2 - 3%. However, for the most nuclear industry applications, it is necessary to use a zirconium of extremely pure level. The current work consists in the separation of zirconium and hafnium by the ion exchange method in order to obtain a zirconium concentrate of high purity. The zirconium and hafnium liquors were produced from the leaching of the Zr(OH)4 and Hf(OH)4 with nitric acid for 24 hours. From these two liquors it was prepared one solution containing 7.5 x 10-2 mol L-1 of Zr and 5.8 x 10-3 mol L-1 of Hf with acidity of 1 M. Ion exchange experiments were carried out in batch with the resins Dowex 50WX4, Dowex 50WX8 100, Dowex 50WX8 50, Amberlite IR-120 and Marathon C at constant temperature 28 deg C. Other variables such as, acidity and agitation were kept constant. The data were adjusted to Langmuir equation in order to calculate the maximum loading capacity (qmax) of the resins, the distribution coefficient (Kd) for Zr and Hf and the separation factor (αHfZr ). The results of maximum loading capacity (qmax) for Zr and Hf, in mmol g-1, showed that the most suitable resins for columns experiments are: Dowex 50WX4 50 (qmax Zr = 2.21, Hf = 0.18), Dowex 50WX8 50 (qmax Zr = 1.89, Hf = 0.13) and Amberlite (qmax Zr = 1.64, Hf = 0.12). However, separations factors, αHfZr, showed that the resins are not selective. (author)