SEDL / STP / STP824-EB / STP34459S

New Process for Zirconium and Hafnium Separation

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

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

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

Pages: 8    Published: Jan 1984

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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.