![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
The present study investigated the extraction of Zn(II) complexes with eight 1‐alkyl‐4(5)‐methylimidazoles (R from C4H9 to C11H23) from aqueous solution (I = 0.5 (KNO3) at 25°C) with toluene, p‐xylene, 2‐ethyl‐1‐hexanol, and dichloromethane. It was found that the extraction curves moved toward lower pH values with an increasing alkyl chain length. Stability constants of the complexes in the aqueous phase were determined as well as partition constants of the extractable species. It was demonstrated that both the stability constants (βc) and the partition constants (Pc) of the complexes increased with increasing alkyl chain length. Furthermore, owing to the steric effect, pseudo‐tetrahedral complexes were found to dominate at the second and third complexation steps, thus increasing the stability constants and facilitating extraction of the Zn(II) complexes with 1‐alkyl‐4(5)‐methylimidazoles.