Potential for industrial applications of locally produced zirconium chemicals

The potential for using locally available acid zirconium sulphate trihydrate (AZST) to produce zirconium chemicals and zirconia has been investigated. Solids which precipitate from AZST solutions upon ageing and hydrolysis under hydrothermal conditions have been characterized by chemical analysis, particle size and surface area. When ageing AZST solutions at pH values < 2 and room temperature, up to 90 % of the U and Th radioactive impurities in AZST remain in solution and do not appear in the solid. Hydrolysis of AZST solutions under controlled conditions produces solids of constant composition which are calcined al 1000 degrees C to produce zirconia, Further, basic zirconium carbonate (BZC) has been prepared on the laboratory scale by neutralization of AZST solution with ammonium carbonate, BZC of acceptable quality has been prepared, which could be used to produce zirconium chemicals for applications in the textile, paint and paper industries.