Separation of Tantalum and Niobium by Solvent Extraction

Abstract

Tantalum and niobium are separated by extraction into di-isopropyl ketone from mineral acid hydrofluoric acid aqueous phaseso Behavior of tantalum is presented in detail, although no conclusions as to species present is reachedo Radiochemical separation procedures for tantalum and niobium are giveno-3-SEPARATION OF TANTALUM AND NIOBIUM BY SOLVENT EXTRACTION

Chemical Properties of Element 105 in Aqueous Solution: Halide Complex Formation and Anion Exchange into Triisoctyl Amine

“…In other manually performed experiments, the extraction behaviour of hahnium fluoride complexes from mixed nitric acid/hydrofluoric acid solutions into methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) was investigated. The extraction of niobium and tantalum from acidic fluoride solutions into MIBK is well known, and has been used as a very characteristic separation and purification process for these elements [6][7][8]. Tantalum extracts under a broader range of conditions than does niobium.…”

“…Pyykkö has recently reviewed relativistic effects in structural chemistry and has emphasized the critical dependence of ligand bonding on the radial extension of 4d, 5d, and 6d wave functions in the respective molecules [28,29], These radial extensions depend primarily on the filling of the different electron shells and the different number of nodes in them. In addition, already the difference between the 4d and 5d orbitals, seems to be due to large, if not dominant, relativistic contributions which, however, enter in an individualistic manner for the various groups of elements [29], For example, Pyykkö discusses the radial electron distribution for the (4df shell and the corresponding (5df shell in the octahedral model systems MoH 6 and WH 6 and finds that the relativistic 5d distribution for WH 6 has a main maximum that has moved from about 2 atomic units (in MOH 6 ) to around 3 -3.5 atomic units in WH 6 due to relativistic effects, see Fig. 3 in Ref.…”

Aqueous Chemistry of Element 105

“…The extraction of niobium and tantalum from acidic fluoride solutions into methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) is well known, and has been used as a separation and purification process for these elements [13][14][15]. Tantalum extracts under a broader range of conditions than does niobium.…”

The Radiochemistry of Niobium and Tantalum

“…The procedure Is In essence that of Stevenson andHicks (Anal. Chem.~,, 1517 (1953) Cautiously shake the black powder out of the cone onto a weighed platinum disc.…”