Patent US4072506A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4072506A
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Method of separating hafnium from zirconium
Assignee: TDY Industries LLC
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Filing: 1975-10-17
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Granted: 1978-02-07
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Expires: 1995-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A method for separating hafnium and zirconium is disclosed in which unseparated zirconium and hafnium are dissolved in the molten state in a solvent metal, preferably zinc. This molten metal phase is contacted with a fused salt phase which includes a zirconium salt as one of its components. The desired separation is effected by mutual displacement, with hafnium being transported from the molten metal phase to the fused salt phase, replacing zirconium in the salt, while zirconium is transported from the fused salt phase to the molten metal phase. Separation factors of 300 or more per stage are achieved.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Allen Megy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:53
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B34/00; C22B34/10; C22B34/14; C22B9/00; C22B9/10; C22B9/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
The method of separating hafnium from zirconium, which comprises the steps of: preparing a molten metal phase which comprises a solution of unseparated zirconium and hafnium and a solvent metal; and contacting the molten metal phase with a fused salt phase which includes a zirconium salt as one of its components, whereby zirconium and hafnium separation is effected by mutual displacement, with hafnium being transported from the molten metal phase to the fused salt phase while zirconium is transported from the fused salt phase to the molten metal phase.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
The method of separating hafnium from zirconium, which comprises the steps of: preparing a molten metal phase which comprises a solution of unseparated zirconium and hafnium and a solvent metal; and contacting the molten metal phase with a fused salt phase which includes a zirconium salt as one of its components, whereby zirconium and hafnium separation is effected by mutual displacement, with hafnium being transported from the molten metal phase to the fused salt phase while zirconium is transported from the fused salt phase to the molten metal phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which the solvent metal is less electropositive than zirconium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 in which the solvent metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, lead, bismuth, copper and tin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 in which the solvent metal is zinc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 in which the cations of the fused salt phase are more electropositive than zirconium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 5 in which at least a portion of the cations in the fused salt phase are selected from the group consisting of the alkali elements, the alkaline earth elements, the rare earth elements and aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 in which at least a portion of the cations in the fused salt phase are alkali elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 in which at least a portion of the cations in the fused salt phase are sodium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 in which at least a portion of the cations in the fused salt phase are potassium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which at least a portion of the salts in the fused salt phase are halide salts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 in which at least a portion of the halide salts are fluoride salts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 in which at least a portion of the halide salts are chloride salts.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
90 words
The method of separating hafnium from zirconium, which comprises the steps of: preparing a molten metal phase which comprises a solution of unseparated zirconium and hafnium and a solvent metal; and oxidizing a portion of the zirconium in the molten metal phase to form a zirconium salt in the fused salt phase, whereby zirconium and hafnium separation is effected by mutual displacement, with hafnium being transported from the molten metal phase to the fused salt phase while zirconium is transported from the fused salt phase to the molten metal phase.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
90 words
The method of separating hafnium from zirconium, which comprises the steps of: preparing a molten metal phase which comprises a solution of unseparated zirconium and hafnium and a solvent metal; and oxidizing a portion of the zirconium in the molten metal phase to form a zirconium salt in the fused salt phase, whereby zirconium and hafnium separation is effected by mutual displacement, with hafnium being transported from the molten metal phase to the fused salt phase while zirconium is transported from the fused salt phase to the molten metal phase.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 in which a portion of the zirconium in the molten metal phase is oxidized by injecting an oxidizing agent into the molten metal phase.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 in which the oxidizing agent is chlorine, whereby the formed zirconium salt is zirconium tetrachloride.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 13 in which the solvent metal is zinc and a portion of the zirconium is oxidized by injecting a zinc salt into the molten metal phase, whereby zirconium from the molten metal phase displaces the zinc ion in the zinc salt to form a zirconium salt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 in which the zinc salt is ZnF 2 , and the zirconium salt formed is ZrF 4 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2793107A
Cited
US3667934A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-02-06 | 1981-08-08 | 1982-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-06 | 1985-08-08 | 1986-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-06 | 1989-08-08 | 1990-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |