Separación selectiva de hierro y cromo de las lejías agotadas del decapado de acero inoxidable

Stainless steel spent pickling baths are very complex solutions of metals and acids (HNO₃ and HF) and are a very important environmental concern. Several processes have been developed for acid recovery (free and bounded acid) with techniques like acid retardation, solvent extraction, evaporation and dialysis diffusion. In these processes, metallic content is precipitated and treated for its disposal. We have developed a process that permits the separation of metals by means of a selective precipitation, induced by adding free fluoride. Iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr) precipitate as pentafluorides and nitrogennickel (Ni) remains in solution. After this stage, complex fluorides can be hydrolized with alkali to give iron and chromium hydroxides, releasing fluoride in solution.