Introduction
Zirconium (Zr) is an extremely abundant metal in the Earths crust as it makes up more than 0.06% of the total mass of the planet. Due to its superior chemical and physical properties, zirconium has been used in various industrial and technological applications, mainly in nuclear and aerospace industries. However, due to the wide range of its applications, the metal has become increasingly valuable.
Therefore, it is necessary to understand ways to separate zirconium from other elements, typically hafnium, which is found in the same raw materials, and occurs in the same deposits. In order to do that, there are several processes that have been developed to separate zirconium from hafnium. These processes will be discussed in detail in this paper.
Physical Separation
The first process is to use physical separation methods to separate zirconium from hafnium. Physical separation methods utilize the differences in the physical and chemical properties of the two metals. Examples of these methods include gravity separation, electro-filtration, and hydro-separation.
Gravity separation is a simple method that uses gravity to separate the two different metals. It is done by introducing the metals into a separation chamber and then allowing them to move according to their weight in the chamber. The heavier metal, usually hafnium, will sink to the bottom, while the lighter metal, usually zirconium, will rise to the top.
Electro-filtration is a method used to separate the two metals by passing them through an electric field. The electric field causes the heavier metal to migrate toward the positively charged electrodes, and the lighter metal to migrate toward the negatively charged electrodes.
Hydro-separation is a process in which the metals are mixed with a solution that has different densities at different temperatures. By changing the temperature of the solution, the different metals will separate due to differences in their solubility.
Chemical Separation
The second process is to use chemical separation methods to separate zirconium from hafnium. Chemical separation methods rely on differences in the chemical properties of the two metals. Examples of these methods include solvent extraction and distillation.
Solvent extraction is a process in which the two metals are mixed with an organic solvent and then separated. The solvent used has different affinities for each of the metals, allowing them to selectively extract one of the metals from the mixture.
Distillation is a process in which the metals are heated until they vaporize and then cooled until they return to their solid form. This process can be used to separate a variety of metals due to differences in their boiling points.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are two main separation processes used to separate zirconium from hafnium: physical separation and chemical separation. Each process has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation. Therefore, it is important to understand the differences between the two processes and to choose the one that is the most suitable for the task at hand.
