abstract |
Improved solvent-extractants for the selective recovery of metal values from acidic aqueous media comprise solutions of 5-alkylbenzotriazoles in water-immiscible organic solvents. Extraction efficiency is enhanced by addition to the solvent-extractant of alkyl aromatic sulfonic acids, alkyl phosphoric acids or carboxylic acids. Especially important applications for the improved solvent-extractants are in the recovery of copper (II) from cobalt (II), copper (II) from nickel (II), copper (II) from iron (III), copper (II) from zinc (II), nickel (II) from cobalt (II), nickel (II) from zinc (II), nickel (II) from iron (III), iron (III) from magnesium (II), and cobalt (II) from zinc (II). |