Extraction of lanthanides by quaternary ammonium salts-I Extractions of ammonium thiocyanate and chloride

Abstract

It has been shown that ammonium thiocyanate is extracted by thiocyanate hydrate salt of Quatamin T-08 ((C n H 2 n+1 ) 3 CH 3NSCN (H 2O) prop;: average n = 10, χ ≈ 1) in toluene and a 1 : 1 complex is formed between the solvent and ammonium thiocyanate in the organic phase. When the chloride salt of the quaternary ammonium extracts ammonium chloride, a similar extraction reaction takes place. When ammonium thiocyanate is present in the aqueous phase, the quaternary ammonium chloride is converted to the thiocyanate salt quantitatively even though a large amount of ammonium chloride exists in the aqueous phase. The presence of ammonium chloride in the aqueous phase enhances the extraction of ammonium thiocyanate.