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Table 2. Influence of aqueous acid nitric concentration less than 3 M
and higher than 5 M, in the distribution coefficient of Se(IV)
by TBP 30% in dodecane. Initial Se(IV) concentration 20.4 mg/L.
H + (M)
Aq. phase
Ratio
Or/Aq
H + (M)
Aq. phase
Se(IV) (mg/L)
Aq. phase
Steady state
Se(IV) (mg/L)
Or. phase
Distribution
coefficient (D)
0.524 3 0.39 21.0 0.223 1.06 E-2
1.06 3 0.69 20.9 0.191 9.12 E-3
2.13 3 1.31 21.4 0.149 6.98 E-3
6.17 3 4.56 22.3 0.0285 1.28 E-3
7.22 3 4.97 23.6 0.0228 9.67 E-4
8.20 3 5.99 22.9 0.0078 3.43 E-4
3.2 Extraction of Zr(IV)
The extraction equilibrium diagrams of Zr(IV) show the typical isothermal curves obtained in this
kind of studies (Figure 5). Although the maximum extraction is obtained when the aqueous nitric acid
and TBP concentrations are high, Zr(IV) is not extracted by TBP in a significant quantity because the
maximum distribution coefficient value is 0.55 (Table 3) obtained for an acidity in the steady state of
4.7 M.
Figure 5. Isothermal equilibrium curves of Zr(IV)
with different HNO 3 (M) concentration and TBP-dodecane % concentrations
0.45
[H + ] aq 5M TBP 30%
[H + ] aq 5M TBP 25%
[Zr(IV)]or (g/L)
0.30
[H + ] aq 5M TBP 20%
[H + ] aq 4M TBP 30%
0.15
[H + ] aq 4M TBP 25%
[H + ] aq 4M TBP 20%
[H + ] aq 3M TBP 30%
[H + ] aq 3M TBP 25%
[H + ] aq 3M TBP 20%
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4
[Zr(IV) aq (g/L)
621