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Separation of Niobium and Tantalum Pentafluoride by Selective Precipitation Using p-Phenylenediamine

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Abstract

The similarity between Ta and Nb chemistry makes it difficult to find the appropriate reagents and chemical reactions for the separation of the two elements. This study investigated the precipitation behavior of TaF5 and NbF5 with p-phenylenediamine (PPDA). PPDA preferentially precipitated Nb from a 1:1 ratio of NbF5 and TaF5. Niobium recoveries of >80%, and only 4% Ta, were found in the precipitate of the reaction between (Nb/Ta)F5 and PPDA in ethanol. A separation factor of 100(9) indicated the potential for successful separation of Nb and Ta in a fluoride environment. A spectrophotometric study of the formation ratio of the newly formed Nb compound indicated a 1:1 metal:ligand ratio.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Research Fund of the University of the Free State, National Research Foundation of South Africa, Necsa and New Metals Development Network of the Advanced Metals Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology of South Africa for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

    M. Nete & W. Purcell

  2. The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation SOC Ltd. (Necsa), P.O. Box 582, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    M. Nete & J. T. Nel

Authors
  1. M. Nete
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  2. W. Purcell
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  3. J. T. Nel
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Correspondence to M. Nete.

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Nete, M., Purcell, W. & Nel, J.T. Separation of Niobium and Tantalum Pentafluoride by Selective Precipitation Using p-Phenylenediamine. JOM 68, 2817–2823 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-016-2003-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-016-2003-1

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