an extraction study of gallium and indium from chloride and sulphate media with sec-nonylphenoxy acetic acid in kerosene

the distribution of gallium(b) and indium (b) between hydrochloric or sulphuric acid solution with sec-nonylphenoxy acetic acid(ca-100) in kerosene has been investigated under various conditions. ca-100 is a new organocarboxylic extractant, which has been shown to be efficient for gallium(b) and indium(b) whereas germanium(c), which was not extracted. the extraction system is studied as a function of initial ph, equilibration time, ca-100 concentration and aqueous ionic media(cl- and so42-). extraction mechanism is discussed on the basis of slope-analysis method, constant molecular series method and saturation capacity method. it was found that sec-nonylphenoxy acetic acid was extracted into the organic phase by formation of the ma3ha species from chloride media and in the form of ma3 from sulphate media.(m=ga and in) the equilibrium equations are proposed on the basis of the results that obtained.