Solvent extraction determination of metals with high molecular weight secondary amine

Abstract

In the present work, a high molecular weight secondary amine extractant, N-n-octylcyclohexyl amine was explored for extraction of refractory metals molybdenum, tungsten and lanthanide elements lanthanum and cerium. The effect of acidity, extractant and metal concentration, equilibrium time, aqueous to organic volume ratio, solvents, strippants were studied critically to establish optimum conditions to achieve quantitative extraction of metal ions. The extraction was found to be quantitative with 0.05 M concentration of N-n-octylcyclohexylamine in dichloromethane and xylene (1:4) from acidic media. After back extraction of metals with suitable strippant, they were determined spectrophotometrically.