An assessment of alkyl chain length effect of symmetric İmidazolium salts as a carrier for selective separation of Cr(VI)

ABSTRACT

Selective solvent extraction (SSX) of Cr(VI) and recovery was evaluated by using a homologous series of symmetric imidazolium bromide salts (SIMs) having various alkyl chain length. Therefore, propyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, and decyl substituted SIMs were used as an ion carrier. The executive parameters affecting both extraction and stripping conditions were investigated for optimization. Finally, a direct correlation was observed a between increasing alkyl chain length and selective Cr(VI) extraction from acidic solutions containing Cr(VI), Fe(III), Co(II), Cd(II), Ni(II). This relationship was reversed in the stripping conditions. Optimal extraction and stripping were obtained for SIM5 and SIM2 as 97.49% and 70.00%, respectively.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Alkyl chain length dependent separation
• Cr(VI) separation
• imidazolium salts
• ionic liquids
• selective solvent extraction

Acknowledgments

In this study, the financial support was provided by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Project No. 112T806. All experimental works were conducted in Çankırı Karatekin University Research Laboratory. The author would like to thank all the supporters due to their precious contributions.