Development of Potassium Extraction Method from Iron Meteorites

Abstract

To establish a method for extracting potassium (K) from iron meteorites, we determined the distribution coefficients of various elements onto anion-exchange resin in mixed solutions of hydrochloric acid and 2-propanol at different concentrations, and conducted chemical separation experiments using anion-exchange chromatography. The results showed that the distribution coefficients of many elements increased with higher 2-propanol concentrations, whereas the distribution coefficient of K remained low. Furthermore, using a mixture containing 1 M hydrochloric acid and 90% 2-propanol as an eluent of anion-exchange chromatography, we achieved selective elution and recovery of K while retaining the most fraction of major elements of iron meteorites (Fe, Co, and Ni) on the resin.