Solvent Extraction of Copper: An Extractive Metallurgy Exercise for Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories

Abstract

A multidisciplinary experiment for advanced undergraduate students has been developed in the context of extractive metallurgy. The experiment serves as a model of an important modern industrial process that combines aspects of organic/inorganic synthesis and analysis. Students are tasked to prepare a salicylaldoxime ligand and samples of the corresponding copper and nickel complexes, before performing test extractions and UV–vis spectroscopic analysis. The oxime ligand demonstrates a clear preference for extraction of Cu2+ in the presence of Ni2+ from aqueous solution under the conditions described. It is also possible to demonstrate that the ligand can be recovered and reused. The experiment has successfully been employed in a final year project-based laboratory course involving small groups of students.