Solvent extraction of polyvanadates from sulphate solutions by PRIMENE 81R. Its application to the recovery of vanadium from spent sulphuric acid catalysts leaching solutions

Recovery of vanadium from a spent catlaysts leaching process has been studi ed using primary amine PRIMENE 81R, resulting in an industrial multistage p rocess for the treatment of these effluents. An extraction mechanism for V( V) is proposed for this amine in acidic media, verifying the influence of p H on the process. Adequate ranges for the variables: O/A ratio, organic pha se composition, pH, stirring speed and phase separation speed were fixed an d simulated in industrial conditions. Vanadium is finally recovered by mean s of precipitation as ammonium metavanadate and later calcination to obtain vanadium pentoxide of commercial grade.