Scandium Recovery from an Ammonium Fluoride Strip Liquor by Anti-Solvent Crystallization

In this study, the crystallization of scandium from ammonium fluoride strip liquor, obtained by solvent extraction, was investigated using an anti-solvent crystallization technique. Acetone, ethanol, methanol and isopropanol were added individually to the strip liquor as the anti-solvent and scandiu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Şerif Kaya, Edward Michael Peters, Kerstin Forsberg, Carsten Dittrich, Srecko Stopic, Bernd Friedrich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-09-01
Series:Metals
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/8/10/767
Description
Summary:In this study, the crystallization of scandium from ammonium fluoride strip liquor, obtained by solvent extraction, was investigated using an anti-solvent crystallization technique. Acetone, ethanol, methanol and isopropanol were added individually to the strip liquor as the anti-solvent and scandium was precipitated and obtained in the form of (NH4)3ScF6 crystals. The results show that scandium can be effectively crystallized from the strip liquor to obtain an intermediate, marketable scandium product. Yields greater than 98% were obtained using an anti-solvent to strip liquor volumetric ratio of 0.8. Acetone had the least performance at lower anti-solvent to strip liquor volumetric ratios, possibly due to its limited H bonding capability with water molecules when compared to alcohols.
ISSN:2075-4701