Comparison of ion exchange and solvent extraction in recovering vanadium from sulfuric acid leach solutions of stone coal

Leaching of roasted stone coal with sulfuric acid results in a mixed vanadium solution containing Fe(III), Fe(II), Al(III) and Mg(II). Separation of V from synthetic sulfate solution containing these impurities has been investigated by ion exchange and solvent extraction. In ion exchange experiments, anion exchange resin ZGA414 was tested as its optimum adsorption capacity compared with D202, D453, D301FC and ZGA351 resins, and D2EHPA and TBP diluted with kerosene were employed in solvent extraction. Ion exchange tests indicated that only V(V) was loaded from the synthetic solution at pH > 1.5, while it was difficult to separate V(V) from Fe(III), which also made resin toxic. Solvent extraction experiments revealed that V(IV) had a better extraction ratio than that of V(V), while Fe(III) had a serious effect on the extraction of V(IV). The co-extraction ratio of Al(III) and Mg(II) can be decreased by controlling their concentrations lower than 10 g/L. Counter-current experiments with D2EHPA presented that 99% of V(IV) was extracted from the real leach solution after reduction process, leaving most of Fe(II), Al(III) and Mg(II) in the raffinate.

► Contrast of ion exchange and solvent extraction in recovering vanadium was discussed.
► The adsorption and extraction behaviors of V(IV) and V(V) were investigated.
► Effects of impurities (Fe, Al, Mg) on the loading and extraction of V were presented.
► The optimum method of separation of vanadium from real leaching solution was given.