Phosphoric Acid → Zirconium phosphate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

420 g. of zirconium basic sulphate (containing 125 g. of Zr expressed as ZrO2) was slurried with 1250 ml. water and 278 g. of 85% orthophosphoric acid were added gradually with stirring. The slurry was heated to 80° C. and maintained at this temperature for one hour. It was then filtered and the residue washed with cold water until the washings were substantially free from sulphate and phosphate anions. The filter cake was dried at a temperature of 40° C. until the dried product contained 8 to 10% of total moisture. There was thus obtained 280 g. of zirconium phosphate ion-exchanger in the hydrogen form corresponding approximately to the empirical formula ZrH2.1 (PO4)1.9.2.0 H2O. The mean particle size of the product was 40 microns and 90% of the particles were contained in the size range 35 to 45 microns. These particle size characteristics corresponded closely to those of the zirconium basic sulphate.

Provenance & Evidence