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ABSTRACT
This research work investigated the performance of Methyl isobutyl ketone-impregnated coconut shell sorbent carbonized at 4500C and activated with 0.5 M hydrofluoric acid using response surface methodology design with the aim of extracting tantalum from solution containing hydrofluoric dissolved tantalite ore. Composite sampling was employed in obtaining samples before treatment. The tantalite ore and the MIBK-impregnated coconut shell sorbent were characterized using instrumentation method for selected parameters which include: x-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence analysis of the tantalite ore; scanning electron microscope micrograph, Fourier transform infra-red spectrograph and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) analysis of MIBK-impregnated coconut shell sorbent carbonized at 4500C and activated with 0.5 M hydrofluoric acid. Factors affecting extraction of tantalum was studied via pH, temperature and contact time. The final extracts of tantalum complex were directly inserted after colour development in the spectrophotometer for absorbance measurement which enhances the sensitivity. It was observed that at a pH of 1, temperature at 680C and contact time of 30 minutes the percentage of tantalum extracted was 93.56% which is the highest from the response surface methodology design. The solvent-impregnated sorbent carbonized at 4500C and activated with 0.5 M hydrofluoric acid solution under study can therefore be used as alternative means in the extraction purpose of precious and valuable minerals to reduce the high cost of conventional extraction methods and environmental safety.
