Flow System for Mutual Separation of Aluminum(III), Gallium(III) and Indium(III) Used Forward-and Back-Extraction Process

Original Paper

Abstract

A continuous flow system for mutual separation of aluminum(III), gallium(III) and indium(III) was developed based on 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thientl)-1,3-butanedione (TTA) extraction. The proposed flow system has two extraction coils, a forward-extraction coil and a back-extraction coil. In the forward-extraction coil, gallium(III) and indium(III) are extracted into the organic phase while aluminum(III) is hardly extracted. In the back-extraction coil, indium(III) is back-extracted into the aqueous phase while gallium(III) remains in the organic phase. Consequently, when a sample solution is introduced into the system, aluminum(III), gallium(III) and indium(III) are separated each other. The effects of the length of the extraction coils and the flow rate of the pump on the separation efficiency were examined. The proposed flow system with extraction coils, 10 m in length for forward-extraction and 1 m in length for back-extraction, enabled the quantitative separation of aluminum(III), gallium(III) and indium(III).