Preliminary studies on ion-pair extractions of Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta using extractants having tertiary N atom from H2SO4 and HF

Abstract Ion-pair extraction enables the recovery of anionic metal ions, such as pertechnetate and chlorinated rhodium ions, by protonated extractants with tertiary amino N atom in their structures. We expand this technique for other anionic species dissolved in different mineral acids. Extractions of Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta, metal anions present in sulfuric and hydrofluoric acids (H2SO4 and HF), are examined. Zr and Hf in H2SO4, and Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta in HF can be extracted by ion-pair extraction using NTAamide (nitrilotriacetamide), methylimino-N, N’-dioctylacetamide (MIDOA), and trioctylamine (TOA). Basic information about their extraction behavior was obtained through this study.