Solvent Extraction of Copper and Zinc from Sulfate Leach Solution Derived from a Porcelain Stone Tailings Sample with Chemorex CP-150 and D2EHPA

Abstract

This research investigates the extraction behavior of copper and zinc from the sulfate leachate of a porcelain stone tailings sample with Chemorex CP-150 and D2EHPA in detail. The findings demonstrated that Chemorex had greater ability and selectivity in the extraction of copper, while D2EHPA was better in the extraction of zinc. 97.88% copper and 78.2% zinc were extracted, respectively, with Chemorex and D2EHPA within 10 min contact time at an 1:1 aqueous/organic ratio, 10% (v/v) extractant concentration, and ambient temperature. The appropriate solution pH levels for Chemorex and D2EHPA were found to be 2.5 and 2, respectively. Also, a McCabe–Thiele diagram was drawn and one single-step extraction for copper and a two-stage process for zinc were needed to achieve the highest extraction efficiency. Additionally, the mechanism study indicated the association of ~ 1.5 and 1 mol of Chemorex CP-150 and D2EHPA for the extraction of one mole of Cu and Zn from the leach solution. Moreover, thermodynamic parameters, including ΔH, ΔG and ΔS were found to be 65.29 kJ/mol, 9.83 kJ/mol, and 186.14 J/mol K for copper and − 18.71 kJ/mol, 17.80 kJ/mol, and − 122.53 J/mol K for zinc, respectively, indicating that the extraction process was endothermic for copper and exothermic for zinc. The effect of contact time, pH, and extractants concentration on the extraction efficiency of Cu and Zn by Chemorex CP-150 and D2EHPA and also the number moles required for extractants