The extraction of zirconium(IV) from sulphuric acid solutions by long-chain aliphatic amines

The extraction of zirconium(IV) from sulphuric acid solutions with long-chain aliphatic amines has been investigated. Secondary amines are more efficient extractants for zirconium than tertiary amines; the efficiency increases with the chain length of the alkyl group and is reduced when the alkyl chain in the tertiary amine is branched. The organic solutions from the extraction by tri-n-octylamine (TOA) have been examined by i.r. and NMR spectroscopy and the mechanism of the extraction by TOA has been studied.