Abstract
The extraction of titanium (Ti(IV)) from chloride medium by Bis-(2-ethyhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) in kerosene has been studied as a function of contact time, the concentration of the extractant in the organic phase and the temperature. The study has been performed at different metal ion concentrations. It was observed that at around 3M of hydrochloric acid in the aqueous phase, the extraction of chromium is at a maximum. The associated metal ions Fe(III), Cr(III) and V(V) are extracted in the order: Fe(III)>V(V)>Cr(III) with 0.25M extractant from 3M of hydrochloric acid and The separation factor for Ti(IV)–Fe(III) are found to be 333. It has been observed that the separation of the Ti(IV) is dependent on the temperature of extraction, concentration of the extractant and acidity of the aqueous solution. Kinetic studies of Ti(IV) from a solution containing Fe(III), V(V) and Cr(III) were carried out using a single drop column method. Reaction orders for Ti(IV), Cr(III), Fe(III) and V(V) were determined. It was found that the extraction rate of Ti(IV) from HCl by D2EHPA as organic extractant is expected to be a function of the concentration of D2EHPA in the organic phase and hydrochloric acid and titanium concentration in aqueous phase.