The effect of diluents on extraction of copper(II) with di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid

Abstract

Abstract The liquid–liquid extraction of copper(II) from sulfate medium with di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA, HL) at 25°C is studied with the following parameters: pH, concentration of the extractant, and the nature of diluent. The effect of the diluent using polar and nonpolar solvents in the extraction of copper(II) is discussed. The extracted copper(II) species were CuL2 in 1-octanol and methyl isobutyl ketone and CuL2 · 2HL in toluene, carbon tetrachloride, and cyclohexane. The extraction constants are evaluated for different diluents. Keywords: liquid–liquid extractioncopper(II)di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric aciddiluent effect