Zirconium and hafnium tetrachloride separation by extractive distillation with molten zinc chloride lead chloride solvent

摘要

This is a molten salt extractive distillation process for separating hafnium from zirconium. It utilizes at least principally a ZnCl.sub.2 - PbCl.sub.2 molten salt solvent, and preferably ZnCl.sub.2 - PbCl.sub.2 in a near eutectic or eutectic mixture. The extraction column is preferably run about 370°-390° C. at about one atomosphere and stripping is preferably done at 375°-400° C. utilizing an inert gas carrier.