Abstract
Studies on the liquid-liquid extraction(LLX) behavior of trace level niobium and tantalum, 95Nb and l82Ta, in HF, HCl, HNO3 and H2SO4 acid media with high molecular weight amine, trioctylamine, under different experimental conditions revealed that the extraction of tantalum is always higher than that of niobium, whatever be the acid or acidity in the aqueous phase. At optimal conditions, quantitative extraction of tantalum and its complete decontamination from niobium has been achieved in HCl and HNO3 media. In HF and H2SO4 media, the coextraction of niobium with tantalum can not, however, be avoided completely, because it has comparatively more affinities for fluoro- or sulfato-complex formation in the respective acid media. The purity and the extents of separation of the tracers by the liquid anion exchanger at different stages have been verified by means of γ-ray spectroscopy.
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