A comparative study on extraction of Fe(III) from chloride leach liquor using TBP, Cyanex 921 and Cyanex 923

A comparative study on extraction of Fe(III) from the HCl leach liquor of low grade iron ore tailings has been carried out using Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP), Cyanex 921 and Cyanex 923 in distilled kerosene. The percentage extraction of iron increased with increasing HCl and extractant concentrations. The extracted species in each case was found to be HFeCl4-S. The extraction isotherms for the above extractants indicated quantitative extraction of Fe(III) in 3-stages at O:A ratio of 3:2 with TBP, and in 2-stages at O:A ratio of 1:1 with Cyanex 921 and Cyanex 923. The stripping studies of the loaded organic phases were carried out with 0.4 M HCl. The stripping isotherms indicated 2-stages at O:A ratio of 5:2 for TBP, and 3-stages at O:A ratio of 2:3 for Cyanex 921 and Cyanex 923. From the extraction studies, the extraction efficiency of the extractants for Fe(III) was in the order TBP99.9%, respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.