ZIRCONIUM HAFNIUM SEPARATION BY EXTRACTIVE DISTILLATION WITH MOLTEN ZINC CHLORIDE CALCIUM AND/OR MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE SOLVENT

摘要

This is a molten salt extractive distillation process for separating hafnium from zirconium. It utilizes at least principally a ZnCl2-Ca/MgCl2 molten salt solvent, and preferably ZnCl2-Ca/MgCl2 in a near 95-15 mixture. The extraction column is preferably run about 380 DEG -420 DEG C. at about one atmosphere and stripping is preferably done at about 385 DEG -450 DEG C. utilizing an inert gas carrier.