Synergistic extraction and separation of Fe (III)

and Zn (II) using TBP and D2EHPA

Dipl.-Ing. Atefeh Azizi, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fereshteh Rashchi, Dipl.-Ing. Ataollah Babakhani, Dipl.-Ing.
Mehdi Noori
School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran,
PO Box 11155/4563,
Tehran, Iran.

The spent pickling liquor of galvanized steel factories contains high concentration of zinc and iron
besides other heavy metals such as Pb, Ni, Cu and Mn in low concentration. Since these metals are
considered as secondary materials, removing from picking liquor plays a vital role in conserving the
environment and recycling valuable metals in particular zinc and iron.
Selective extraction of zinc and iron has been considered by several authors recently, and the solvent
extraction (SX) has been known as a widely used clean hydrometallurgical separation technique. The
main extractant used in zinc extraction is di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA), which extracts
iron (III) as well. In addition to the D2EHPA, tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) has been reported as the
most effective extractant for zinc extraction and stripping from chloride solutions which showed a
lower extraction power compared with D2EHPA. Whilst sole D2EHPA extracted 99% of iron (III)
and 97% for zinc (II) at A/O =1, it showed poor selectivity for zinc over iron (III) (pH0.5 ~ 0.97).
According to the problems associated with sole extractant, synergistic effect of TBP with D2EHPA
diluted in kerosene on the extraction of zinc (II) and iron (III) from leach solutions was investigated
with the aim of obtaining a higher extraction efficiency as well as boosting selective extraction. Increasing TBP to D2EHPA ratios in the organic phase caused a slight shift to the right in the extraction
isotherm of iron and a marked shift to the right in the extraction isotherm of zinc and thus, superior
separation of iron over zinc was achieved. As a result, the separation factor and pH0.5 increased.
Decreasing the ratio of D2EHPA to TBP, enhanced selective extraction. It is worth to note that, the
mixture of 0.15 M D2EHPA and 0.55 M TBP (D2EHPA to TBP volume ratio of 1:3) resulted in
highest separation factor (9.72103) and the largest pH0.5 (1.7).

Poster of EMC 2015

Synergistic extraction and

separation of Fe (III) and Zn (II)
using TBP and D2EHPA
Solvent
Extraction
(SX)
Importance of recycling and separating

A
widely
used
separation
technique
Hydrometallurgical
zinc and iron from waste liquor
separation

Clean
method
Consuming less energy compared
technique

Preventing
water
pollution
with primary metals production

Selecting
proper
extractant(s)
is
a
Conserving raw materials
determining
factor
in
extractions
Environmentally friendly
efficiency
100

80

% Extraction

Sole D2EHPA (di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid )

The main extarctant of zinc(II) and iron(III)
Extracting 99% of iron and 97% of zinc
Poor selectivity for zinc over iron(III)
High concentration of HCl is required in stripping

60

Zn (0.6 M D2EHPA)

40
Fe (0.6 M D2EHPA)

20
0

Sole TBP (tri-n-butyl phosphate)

The most effective extractant for zinc extraction
and stripping from chloride solutions
Extracted less metal ions compared with D2EHPA
Considerable amount of TBP is required to show
high percentage extraction
More expensive than D2EHPA

% Extraction

80

Fe (0.73 M TBP)

60

Zn (0.73 M TBP)

40
20
0
0

80
Fe(sole D2EHPA)
Zn(sole D2EHPA)
Fe(D2EHPA:TBP=3:1)
Zn(D2EHPA:TBP=3:1)
Fe(D2EHPA:TBP=2:1)
Zn(D2EHPA:TBP=2:1)
Fe(D2EHPA:TBP=1:1)
Zn(D2EHPA:TBP=1:1)
Fe(D2EHPA:TBP=1:2)
Zn(D2EHPA:TBP=1:2)
Fe(D2EHPA:TBP=1:3)
Zn(D2EHPA:TBP=1:3)

Slight shift

60
50
40
30
20
10

Marked shift

0
0

pH

Marked shift to the right

in the isotherm of zinc
Slight shift to the right in
the isotherm of iron

2.5
Fe

Zn

pH0.5

%Extraction

70

2
pH

Increasing TBP
to D2EHPA ratio

90

100

Mixture of D2EHPA and TBP as synergist

Higher extraction efficiency
Maximising separation factor Boosting selective
extraction
Increasing pH0.5
100

pH

1.5
1
0.5
0

0
5

0.2

0.4
XTBP

0.6

0.8

Conclusions: The mixture of 0.15 M D2EHPA and 0.55 M TBP (D2EHPA to TBP volume ratio of
3
1:3) resulted in highest separation factor (9.7210 ) and the largest pH0.5 (1.7).
University
of
Tehran

Contact: Dipl.-Ing. Atefeh Azizi

atefeazizi@ut.ac.ir