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New Process for Zirconium and Hafnium Separation

Moulin, L
Technical director, Jarrie plant manager, and process engineering manager,Companie Européene Du Zirconium, CEZUS,

Thouvenin, P
Technical director, Jarrie plant manager, and process engineering manager,Companie Européene Du Zirconium, CEZUS,

Brun, P
Technical director, Jarrie plant manager, and process engineering manager,Companie Européene Du Zirconium, CEZUS,

Pages: 8    Published: Jan 1984

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Source: STP824-EB

Abstract

The separation of hafnium and zirconium, required for nuclear use of zirconium, is generally performed by liquid-liquid extraction in organic solvents. The paper describes a new process based on extractive distillation of zirconium chloride (ZrCl⁴) and hafnium chloride (HfCl⁴) in a solvent made of molten potassium chloride-aluminum chloride (KCl-AlCl³) mixture above 350°C at atmospheric pressure. The corresponding process is now in full-scale industrial production.

Keywords:
hafnium separation, extractive distillation, pure zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium sponge

Paper ID: STP34459S
Committee/Subcommittee: B10.02
DOI: 10.1520/STP34459S
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