A comparative study on extraction of Fe(III) from chloride leach liquor using TBP, Cyanex 921 and Cyanex 923

A comparative study on extraction of Fe(III) from the HCl leach liquor of low grade iron ore tailings has been carried out using Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP), Cyanex 921 and Cyanex 923 in distilled kerosene. The percentage extraction of iron increased with increasing HCl and extractant concentrations. The extracted species in each case was found to be HFeCl4·S. The extraction isotherms for the above extractants indicated quantitative extraction of Fe(III) in 3-stages at O:A ratio of 3:2 with TBP, and in 2-stages at O:A ratio of 1:1 with Cyanex 921 and Cyanex 923. The stripping studies of the loaded organic phases were carried out with 0.4 M HCl. The stripping isotherms indicated 2-stages at O:A ratio of 5:2 for TBP, and 3-stages at O:A ratio of 2:3 for Cyanex 921 and Cyanex 923. From the extraction studies, the extraction efficiency of the extractants for Fe(III) was in the order TBP < Cyanex 921 < Cyanex 923. Although Cyanex 923 was found to be the best extractant, the percentage stripping of Fe from the loaded Cyanex 923 was the least. The stripping of Cyanex 923 was 94.9%, but with TBP and Cyanex 921, it was 99.8% and > 99.9%, respectively.

Research highlights
► Iron was extracted from HCl media using TBP, Cyanex 921 and Cyanex 923.
► The order of efficiency of the extractants: TBP < Cyanex 921 < Cyanex 923.
► Extraction with TBP: 3-stage, O:A = 1.5 ; Cyanex 921, Cyanex 923: 2-stage, O:A = 1.
► Quantitative stripping of Fe-LO was achieved with 0.4 M HCl.
► The extracted species for TBP, Cyanex 921 and Cyanex 923 were HFeCl4.Solvent.