Extraction of Iron(III) from Nickel Chloride Solutions by Mixtures of Aliphatic Alcohols and Ketones

Abstract

ABSTRACT The article presents studies on the extraction of iron from chloride solutions with aliphatic alcohols, ketones, and their mixtures. Dilution of 1-octanol with an inert aromatic diluent to a concentration of 80 vol.% led to an increase in its extraction capacity, while the extraction capacity of 2-octanone has decreased with dilution. A synergistic effect was found for a 1-octanol/2-octanone mixture, the maximum of extraction was observed at a ketone concentration of 80 vol.%. The effect of a mixture composition and chloride ion concentration on the iron extraction degree was studied. McCabe-Thiele results indicated that at Fe(III) concentration in the aqueous phase 9.32 g∙dm−3, it is possible to extract iron(III) quantitatively using a mixture of alcohols C8+C10 (70 vol.%) and 2-undecanone (30 vol.%) after three extraction stages. Stripping of Fe(III) from the mixture was done with distilled water. After the stripping, the loaded Fe(III) concentration in the organic phase was reduced from 27 g∙dm−3 to <0.001 g∙dm−3 for 3 stages. The conditions were tested in continuous mode at a cascade of laboratory extractors. During the tests on the cascade, the low solubility of the mixture of ketone with alcohol was established, and the concentrated solution of ferric chloride was obtained.