EXTRACTION OF COPPER(II) FROM ACID CHLORIDE SOLUTIONS BY N-DODECYL- AND N.N-DIHEXYLPYRIDINECARBOXAMIDES

ABSTRACT

N-dodecyl- and N,N-dihexylpyridinecarboxamides with amide group at 2, 3 or 4 position were synthesized. Model individual amides were used to recover copper(II) from chloride solutions at constant water activity and constant total concentration of dissolved species in aqueous solution. It was found, that pyridine-2-carboxamide forms with copper complexes (CuCl₂)_x (Ext)₂. Remaining amides form with copper complexes CuCl₂(Ext)₂. Monoalkylamides are not suitable for extraction because they and their complexes are slightly soluble in the hydrocarbon diluents. N,N-dialkylpyridinecarboxamides and their copper complexes are sufficiently soluble in the hydrocarbon phase to carry out extraction. However, they are strong extractants and extract efficiently copper already from dilute chloride solutions ([Cl] = 0.1 M). They extract also significant amounts of copper from concentrated (3-4M) nitrate solutions.