Liquid-liquid extraction of divalent manganese,cobalt, copper,zinc and cadmium from aqueous chloride solutions by tricaprylmethylammonium chloride

The distribution of divalent manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc and cadmium between aqueous solutions of hydrochloric acid and/or lithium chloride and the solutions of tricaprylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat-336, R₃R′NCl) in benzene has been investigated under different conditions. It is found that the extraction of these metals by Aliquat-336 proceeds as MCl₄^2?(aq) + 2 R₃R′NCI(org) ? (R₃R′N)₂MCI₄ (org) + 2 Cl^?(aq). The extraction curves have been examined utilizing a modified chemical model on the basis of this equilibrium equation. In addition, the electronic, electron spin resonance and infrared spectral results suggest that all the complexes formed in the organic phases are in a tetrahedral arrangement.