Extraction of niobium and tantalum isotopes using organophosphorus compounds. Part II – Extraction of “carrier-free” concentrations from HCl/LiCl solutions

We have studied the extraction of niobium and tantalum from mixed hydrochloric acid/lithium chloride media by bis(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate (HDEHP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphite (BEHP) as a function of hydrogen ion (H+) concentration. The amount of niobium extracted by both HDEHP and BEHP decreased with increasing hydrogen ion concentration. Equilibrium with niobium occured within 10s at all hydrogen ion concentrations for both systems. For tantalum, the amount extracted increased until 6-9 M H+, before decreasing at higher H+ concentrations when extracted by both HDEHP and BEHR. Equilibrium occured within 10 s at two H+ concentrations when extracted by HDEHP. The data obtained are used as the basis to discuss the speciation of Nb and Ta under the conditions studied and to evaluate possible extraction mechanisms.