Vanadium(IV) ions extraction in the aqueous two-phase system based on poly(ethylene glycol)

Vanadium has found wide applications in various industries: metallurgy, electronics, batteries, and others. This element, being dispersed, does not form its minerals and, therefore, is mined along the way. An alternative approach of vanadium extraction is to separate it from heavy oil, by flushing the oil with strong acids solutions and further hydrometallurgical processing. The existing methods of oil dehydration solutions processing for the vanadium extraction are not perfect - they do not meet the “green” chemistry principles. Thus, we investigated V(IV) ions extraction in the aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) based on poly(ethylene glycol) 1500 (16.3wt%) – NaNO3 (36wt%) – H2O. The dependences of V(IV) extraction efficiency on phases time contact, and dependences V(IV) distribution coefficients on salt phase acidity have been obtained. This system is shown to be a prospective solution for the vanadium(IV) recovery from acidic waste steams problem as it is possible to extract vanadium with an efficiency of more than 81.6% per one extraction step (the distribution coefficient of vanadium (IV) was 4.84).

Optimization on Temperature Strategy of BOF Vanadium Extraction to Enhance Vanadium Yield with Minimum Carbon Loss

During the vanadium extraction process in basic oxygen furnace (BOF), unduly high temperature is unfavorable to achieve efficient vanadium yield with minimum carbon loss. A new temperature strategy was developed based on industrial experiments. The new strategy applies the selective oxidation temperature between carbon and vanadium (Tsl) and the equilibrium temperature of vanadium oxidation and reduction (Teq) for the earlier and middle-late smelting, respectively. Industrial experiments showed 56.9 wt% of V was removed together with carbon loss for 5.6 wt% only in the earlier smelting. Additionally, 30 wt% of vanadium was removed together with carbon loss by 13.4 wt% in middle-late smelting. Applicability analyses confirmed Teq as the high-limit temperature, vanadium removal remains low and carbon loss increased sharply when the molten bath temperature exceeded Teq. With the optimized temperature strategy, vanadium removal increased from 69.2 wt% to 92.3 wt% with a promotion by 23 wt%.