Kinetics of interphase transfer of zirconium between nitric acid and tributyl phosphate solutions

The study on the extraction kinetics of zirconium into the binary mixture of tributyl phosphate TBP and n-dodecane has been described in the present investigation. Experiments were carried in a constant interfacial area stirred cell. The effect of different parameters like stirring speed, temperature, specific interfacial area and concentrations of reactants and nitric acid on the extraction rate of zirconium were studied. A systematic approach has been adopted to determine location of reaction plane, kinetic regime and rate parameters. Based on the results of the present study, it is concluded that extraction reaction is interfacial and the overall extraction rate is controlled by chemical reaction between reactant molecules.