LSER analysis of reactive extraction of Zn and Cu with bis (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (HDEHP) in six different diluents

ABSTRACT

An equilibrium study on the reactive extraction of Zn and Cu from aqueous solution using bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (HDEHP) in six different diluents including n-hexane, n-heptane, benzene, toluene, chloroform and dichloromethane (DCM) was carried out. Additionally, the extraction equilibrium results were correlated with a linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) model. The extraction efficiency of HDEHP in terms of distribution coefficient was found to vary in the order of diluents as DCM> chloroform> toluene> benzene> n-heptane> n-hexane. The highest value of the distribution coefficient, K_D, was observed with DCM as 21.55 (Zn) and 18.97 (Cu). The experimental data were correlated with the LSER model, and a close resemblance was observed between them.

KEYWORDS:

• Reactive extraction
• zinc
• and copper
• diluents effect
• LSER model