High-quality zirconia powder resulting from the attempted separation of acetic acid from acrylic acid with zirconium oxychloride

Both acetic and acrylic acids are low molecular weight carboxylic acids wit h very similar physical and chemical properties. As a result it is difficul t to separate these two acids by the now commercially significant separatio n techniques such as distillation, solvent extraction, adsorption, ion exch ange, calcium salt precipitation, and membrane processes. We propose a meta l-organic precipitation process using zirconium oxychloride to separate ace tic acid from acrylic acid in the effluent of an acrylic acid plant. The pr ocess developed is based on the selective precipitation of acrylic acid, at suitable pH values, by the addition of zirconium oxychloride to the efflue nt. The resulting precipitate is a precursor that can yield a pure, ultrafi ne, and partially-stabilized zirconia powder which has been characterised u sing thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Enviro nmental, technological and cost advantages will make the present process fe asible for the manufacture of advanced zirconia-based ceramics.