The FTIR image comparison of zirconium sulfate synthesis products from the pathways of Na2ZrO3 and zirconium oxychloride compounds

Abstract

PSTA BATAN has synthesized zirconium sulfate (ZS) through two methods. Synthesis pathway (I) from Na2ZrO3 (CDZ) and (II) through zirconium oxychloride (ZOC). This research aimed to compare both pathways by utilizing FTIR. Path (I) was done using concentrations of H2SO4 65%, contact time of 30, 60, 90, and 150 min, and temperatures of 125, 150, 175, and 225 °C. While path II has been carried out in previous studies [1]. The FTIR image comparison was finished by tracing sulfate derivative functional groups from a wavenumber of 4000–400 cm−1. The O–H stretching at 3441.01 cm−1 as the Zr(OH)Zr group and OH vibration in 3425.68 cm−1 were found at each pathway. However, at pathway (II), we observed another vibration at 3132.40 cm−1 as the NH3 compound group. Furthermore, the track records of S–O and SO stretching on both pathways were checked at 1635.64, 1095.57, and 956.69 cm−1, respectively, as H3O+, SO42−, and SO32− species. The real difference in pathway (I) was revealed by the presence of H2SO4 residue at 802.39 cm−1. At the same time, the Zr–O–Zr and O–Zr–O stretching could be detected in both pathways at the wavenumber of 594.09 and 470.63 cm−1 consecutively. The form of synthesis pathway (I) product was predicted as Zr(SO4)2, while the product of path (II) forecasted as Zr(NH3)(SO4)2 compound.