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.