PYROMETALLURGICAL SEPARATION METHOD FOR ZIRCONIA/HAFNIUM OXIDE MIXTURE Russian patent published in 2018 - IPC C22B34/14 C01G25/02 C01G27/02 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: method relates to the separation of zirconia and hafnium by pyrometallurgy. Mixture of zirconia oxide and hafnium oxide, carbon and pure bromine react for an hour at 650°C to obtain pure zirconium bromide and hafnium bromide. Zirconium bromide and hafnium bromide are then added to a molten salt mixture for fractionation separation, after which temperature at the bottom of the fractionation column is maintained for 2 hours below 357°C, to obtain an non-target substance. Further, method includes holding for 5 hours at a temperature of 357°C, collecting the desired zirconium tetrabromide. Residue is left in the reactor. Separation by fractionation is carried out in the same device. Method includes heating to 400 °C, maintaining said temperature for more than 5 hours, and hafnium tetrabromide is obtained. Zirconium tetrabromide and hafnium tetrabromide are treated with magnesium to obtain pure zirconium and pure hafnium.

EFFECT: high-purity zirconium and hafnium, suitable for the production of nuclear materials, are obtained.

5 cl, 1 ex