Production of highly purified zirconium oxide from zircon mineral leach liquor using bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate as a promising extractant

Abstract

In this manuscript, efficiency of the used organic solvent for recovering, separating and producing highly purified zirconium oxide from zirconium chloride leach liquor of Rosetta white zircon concentrate was investigated. Zircon mineral was thermally decomposed with caustic soda, cooled, washed with distilled water and then dissolved in hydrochloric acid. Zirconium extraction efficiency reached 91.4% using 10% bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate dissolved in kerosene, 15 min contact time and volume phase ratio O/A 1:1 after 3 stages. Zirconium re-extraction efficiency reached 99.95% using the following optimum conditions 4 molL−1 H2SO4 as an effective stripping agent, 15 min contact time and volume phase ratio O:A 1:1 after 2 stages. Finally, Zr (OH)4 was precipitated in presence and absence of H2O2 by NH4OH solution, filtrated, rinsed with double distilled H2O to remove any impurities several times and dehydrated at 200 °C for 2 h. From XRF and EDAX analysis the produced zirconium oxide in presence of H2O2 is purer than that produced in absence of H2O2.

Zirconium preconcentration from zircon raffinate using gamma radiation–induced polymerization of reduced graphene oxide composite

“…About 250 g of zircon is heated to 650 °C in a stainless steel melting pot with 312 g of NaOH pellets; the resulting smelt is composed of water-soluble sodium silicate (Na 2 SiO 3 ) and water-insoluble sodium zirconate (Na 2 ZrO 3 ); this step is demonstrated by Eq. ( 1 ) (Ali 2022 ) …”

“…HCl to keep pH lower than 1 to avoid zirconium hydrolysis at 90 °C for 2 h as given in following Eq. ( 3 ) (Ali 2022 ) and then directly filtered, yielding zirconium chloride solution with the concentration (12.01 gL −1 ) and the solid residual, which mainly consisted of unreacted zircon, HfO 2 , TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , ThO 2 , and H 2 SiO 3 (Mohamed and Daher 2002 ). …”

“…Previously (Ali 2022 ; Bhatta et al 2013 ), the prepared chloride solution was solvent extracted, the raffinate (aqueous remained solutions from a previous work) about 1 L was collected, and its zirconium content was determined and precipitated by ammonia solution. To prepare the required working concentrations, the precipitate was dried and divided before being dissolved in various acids such as conc.…”

“…Zirconium is only found in its compounds in the IV oxidation state, and its properties are similar to those of titanium (IV). Zr(IV) and ZrO 2+ ions exist in HNO 3 and HC1O 4 solutions and polymerize as zirconium can be formed with the fluoride ion, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, and hydroxy acids (Ali 2022 ). Zirconium has excellent thermal and mechanical properties, which make it suitable for many different applications like painting, glazes, dyes in the ceramic industry, refractory materials, smelting molds, and organic catalysts (Biswas et al 2012 ; Rajmane et al 2006 ).…”

Preparation of zirconium oxide nanoparticles from rosette concentrate using two distinct and sequential techniques: hydrothermal and fusion digestion

“…Because of its refractory nature, hardness, and resistance to chemical attack, zircon has many applications and is used directly in high-temperature applications such as ceramic materials and molds for molten metals (Manicone et al 2007). Zirconium dioxide (ZrO 2 , also known as zirconia), which is the most common oxide produced from the mineral zircon, is used in the manufacture of laboratory crucibles, metallurgical furnaces, the production of ceramic knives, and as an ingredient in some abrasives (as grinding wheels and sandpaper) (Ali 2022;Lide 2008). Other niche applications for the zircon after conversion to metal were developed and used in many fields such as surgical appliances, light filaments, explosive primers, getters in vacuum tubes, and pyrotechnic compositions to generate sparks (Gudyanga 2020).…”