Separation of Th and Zr from acid medium by 3-formyl-4-hydroxy-N-methyl 2(H) quinoline

3-Formyl-4-hydroxy-N-methyl 2(H) quinoline (FHMQ) was synthesized and chara cterized. This compound was found not soluble in water or nitric acid solut ions of different concentration. The uptake of Zr and Th from nitric acid b y FHMQ has been investigated. The effect of shaking time on the percent upt ake was studied. It was found that the equilibrium uptake of Zr is reached in one step after 2 hrs while in case of Th 4 hrs was required to reach equ ilibrium. The effect of nitric acid, metal ion and FHMQ on Zr uptake was st udied. Studies on the retention capacity of 3-formyl-4-hydroxy-N-methyl 2(H ) quinoline showed that its capacity decreases by increasing the nitric aci d concentration for both Zr and Th. From the results obtained a selective m ethod for separation of Zr from Th and U(VI) was developed using a floating bed column.