Solvent extraction of Fe(III) from the chloride leach liquor of low grade iron ore tailings using Aliquat 336

Abstract

Solvent extraction of iron (III) from the HCl 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, HCl 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, NaNO 3, Na 2SO 4, NaOOCCH 3, and Na 3C 6H 5O 7·2H 2O 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 HCl 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 R 3NCH 3 ·FeCl 4. 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 0.338 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.