Effect Of Impurities On Crystallizing Ammonium Paratungstate

Crystallization of ammonium paratungstate (APT) is frequently the last effective purification step in producing high-purity tungsten. However, crystallizer mother liquors are often several times higher in tungsten than predicted by the solubility of APT. The formation of heteropoly anions, particularly those containing phosphorus and silicon, is largely responsible. Solubility of tungsten in APT mother liquor can be linearly correlated with the concentration of these and other impurities. The problem can be overcome by direct treatment of the crystallizer feed solution with alum. By appropriate treatment, the aluminum hydroxide flocculates and is easily filtered, resulting in a purified low-aluminum crystallizer feed from which high APT yields can be attained.