Effect of structure of aromatic ethers on their extraction of Au(III) from acidic chloride media

Abstract

An aromatic ethereal compound, 1-methoxy-2-octoxybenzene, was recently found to be a good extractant for Au(III) from hydrochloric acid media. The present study therefore investigated the structural factors of ethereal compounds for the extraction of Au(III) under dilute extractant concentrations. In the series of aromatic ethereal compounds used in this study, 1-dodecoxybenzene showed the highest extractability for Au(III). There was a clear correlation between the extractability of Au(III) and the strength of hydrophobicity of the aromatic ethereal compounds. Au(III) was selectively extracted using 1-dodecoxybenzene over other precious- and base-metal cations. Au(III) was quantitatively stripped from this extractant using aqueous thiourea solution.