Extraction of triply charged metal cations in aqueous phase-separating system antipyrine–sulfosalicylic acid–water

Abstract

Extraction of macro amounts of triply charged metal cations (0.01–0.05 mol L−1) in aqueous phase-separating system antipyrine–sulfosalicylic acid–water containing no organic solvent is studied. Optimum conditions for phase separation are established and the influence of the concentrations of the major components, inorganic acids (H2SO4, HCl), salting-out agents, and the volume of the aqueous phase on the process in question is determined. It was found that the optimum antipyrine/sulfosalicylic acid ratio in the system was (1.5–2.0): 1.0. The introduction of inorganic salting-out agents causes the volume of the organic phase (0.8–1.8 mL) to increase to 2 mL and more. The extractability series of triply charged metal ions is as follows: Tl > Fe > Sc > In > Ga. It was shown that inorganic salts and hexamine influence the degree of extraction of metal cations and that inorganic acids and water affect the distribution mechanism and the composition of the complexes. The half-extraction pH values (pH1/2) of the cations are calculated and correlations between the pH1/2 values, the ionic radii of the cations, and the polarization ability of the metal ions are established.