EQUILIBRIUM STUDIES OF COPPER EXTRACTION FROM SULPHATE MEDIA WITH HYDROXYOXIME EXTRACTANT

Abstract

The aqueous solubilities of hydroxyoxime extractant and equilibria of copper extraction from sulphate media were studied, using several organic solvents as examples of aliphatic or aromatic diluents. The diluent effect on the equilibrium correlation was reasonably explained, taking account of both the interaction between oxime molecules to form a dimeric oxime and between oxime and diluent molecule to form an inert solvated complex. The oxime molecules were adsorbed predominantly as a monomeric form at the aqueous-organic interface, which was saturated at rather small bulk concentration in the organic phase.