The Role of Additives in Metal Extraction in Oil/Water Systems

Abstract

Metal separation by solvent extraction in macroscopic oil/water systems, is a major operation in several countries. Many studies have been devoted to the design of extractants to target specific metals and the use of additives such as modifiers, surfactants, and a second extractant for better kinetics, ease of processing, improved selectivity, and enhanced interfacial properties in these separation systems. As these are quite complex systems, both experimental and modelling studies can be very difficult. This is especially true when attempting to measure interfacial properties. However, over the years many novel pieces of equipment and experimental techniques have been developed to probe these multicomponent systems. This review investigates the role of additives in solvent extraction for metal separations in macroscopic oil/water systems.

Keywords:

• Liquid-liquid extraction
• kinetics
• interfacial phenomena
• solvent extraction

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Support from the Australian Research Council and the Particulate Fluids Processing Centre is gratefully acknowledged.