EFFECT OF END GROUPS AND CHAIN LENGTH ON EXTRACTION OF LITHIUM ION BY A SERIES OF NON-CYCLIC IONOPHORES

A series of non-cyclic polyethers with different end groups and chain length were used for the extraction of lithium salt from aqueous into various organic phases viz. Chloroform, Carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, to study the influence of structural variations within the extractant molecule upon the extraction selectivity and efficiency. The ionophores used were viz. DEG (I), DEGDME (II), DEGMBE (III), DEGDBE (IV), DEGDB (V), EE (VI), ME (VII), Cryptofix (VIII), TEG (IX), TrEG (X). The trend of extraction is IV > III > I ? II > VI > VII > V > VIII ? IX ? X. The DEGDBE proved to be the most efficient extractant for the lithium ion.