Electrosynthesis of titanium dioxide from sulfate leach liquors using solvent extraction/electrochemical deposition process

Abstract

The primary goal of this study was the development of a recycling process to recover titanium from real sulfate leach liquors prepared from the tailings of uranium processing mine. Preparation and characterization of pure TiO2 powders using; a clean, cheap, and low-temperature combined solvent extraction/electrochemical deposition technique were reported. Solvent extraction using di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid in kerosene allowed the selective recovery of Ti (IV) from the leach liquor containing Fe, Mn, and Zr impurities. All of the Ti was extracted selectively using 20% D2EHPA/kerosene under organic/aqueous phase ratio of unity in presence of L-ascorbic acid. The equilibrium in 8.5 M sulfuric acid is established within 60 min. Subsequently, Ti was recovered from the loaded organic phase using mixtures of HCl and H2O2 solutions. The preparation of TiO2 powders by cathodic electrodeposition was optimized. A combination of X-ray diffraction and dynamic light scattering analysis had been used to confirm the formation of TiO2 nanoparticles. Finally, the solvent extraction and electrodeposition mechanisms were discussed, and the resultant products were characterized by several techniques. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT