Abstract:
Solvent extraction of iron (III) from the HCI leach liquor of low grade iron ore tailings was studied with Aliquat 336, a quaternary amine in kerosene. p-Nonyl phenol was used as the third phase modifier. The effect of different parameters such as equilibration time, HCI concentration, H+ concentration, Cl- concentration and extractant concentration on extraction of iron was studied. The effect of different diluents such as xylene, benzene, toluene, diphenyl ether, diethyl ether, cyclohexane, hexanol, cyclohexanol and butanol on extraction of iron was investigated. The effect of various salts such as NaCl, NaNO3, Na2SO4, NaOOCCH3, and Na3C6H5O7 center dot 2H(2)O in the feed solution within the concentrations of 0.5 to 2.5 M on extraction of iron was studied. It was observed that extraction of iron increased from 51.82 to 97.52% and from 5.81 to 97.19% with increase in HCI and extractant concentrations from 1.67 to 9.7 M and from 0.025 to 0.4 M, respectively. From the slope analysis study, the number of moles of H+, Cl- and Aliquat 336 associated with the extracted species was determined and the extracted species was found to be R3NCH3 center dot FeCl4. The McCabe-Thiele plot for extraction of iron with 0.2 M Aliquat 336 illustrated 2-stages at 1:1 phase ratio and the loaded organic contained 0338 M (18.8496 kg/m(3)) iron indicating 98.57% extraction. The stripping of iron from the loaded organic carried out with distilled water showed quantitative stripping in 3-stages at O:A ratio of 2:1. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.