Extraction of Se(iv) and Se(vi) from aqueous HCl solution by using a diamide-containing tertiary amine.

Here, we investigated the mechanism underlying the extraction of Se(iv) and Se(vi) from aqueous HCl solutions by N-2-ethylhexyl-bis(N-di-2-ethylhexyl-ethylamide)amine (EHBAA). In addition to examining extraction behavior, we also elucidated structural properties of the dominant Se species in solution. Two types of aqueous HCl solutions were prepared by dissolving a SeIV oxide or a SeVI salt. X-ray absorption near edge structure analyses revealed that Se(vi) was reduced to Se(iv) in 8 M HCl. Using 0.5 M EHBAA, ∼50% of Se(vi) was extracted from 0.5 M HCl. In contrast, Se(iv) was hardly extracted from 0.5 to 5 M HCl; however, at molar concentrations above 5 M, the extraction efficiency of Se(iv) increased drastically, reaching ∼85%. Slope analyses for the distribution ratios of Se(iv) in 8 M HCl and Se(vi) in 0.5 M HCl showed that apparent stoichiometries of Se(iv) or Se(vi) to EHBAA were 1 : 1 and 1 : 2, respectively. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure measurements revealed that the inner-sphere of the Se(iv) and Se(vi) complexes extracted with EHBAA was [SeOCl2] and [SeO4]2-, respectively. Together, these results indicate that Se(iv) is extracted from 8 M HCl with EHBAA via a solvation-type reaction, whereas Se(vi) is extracted from 0.5 M HCl via an anion-exchange-type reaction.

Unique Anion-exchange Properties of 3,3'-Diaminobenzidine Resulting in High Selectivity for Rhodium(III) over Palladium(II) and Platinum(IV) in a Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid Solution.

The effective recovery of Rh(III) from mixtures also containing Pd(II) and Pt(IV) is one of the most difficult tasks in platinum group metal refining. Adding 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) to 7 and 10 M HCl aqueous solutions containing Rh(III), Pd(II), and Pt(IV) chlorido species affords the effective separation of Rh(III) from Pd(II) and Pt(IV) through a process where Rh(III) becomes sequestered into solid phases composed of DAB. The stoichiometry and inner coordination sphere of the metal in Rh-DAB complexes were determined by estimating the Rh(III), H+, and Cl- concentrations in the solid phase and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements to clarify the mechanism of DAB selectivity for Rh(III). These results indicate that the Rh-DAB reaction in a concentrated HCl solution occurs in two steps: (1) the precipitation of DAB trihydrochloride salts, where DAB's amino groups are protonated and (2) anion exchange of the trihydrochloride salts for chloride ions with [RhCl6]3-, which is the predominant species in a concentrated HCl solution. By contrast, ion-pair complexes with [PdCl4]2- and [PtCl6]2- were not observed in DAB phases. The significantly lower affinity of the DAB trihydro cation for [PtCl6]2- and [PdCl4]2- than for [RhCl6]3- in 7 and 10 M HCl solutions accounts for the effective separation of Rh(III) from Pd(II) and Pt(IV).

Proton Chelating Ligands Drive Improved Chemical Separations for Rhodium.

Current methods for the extraction of rhodium carry the highest carbon footprint and worst pollution metrics of all of the elements used in modern technological applications. Improving upon existing methods is made difficult by the limited understanding of the molecular-level chemistry occurring in extraction processes, particularly in the hydrometallurgical separation step. While many of the precious metals can be separated by solvent extraction, there currently exist no commercial extractants for Rh. This is due to its complicated mixed speciation upon leaching into hydrochloric acid, which gives rise to difficulties in designing effective reagents for solvent extraction. Herein we show that the diamidoamine reagent N- n-hexylbis( N-methyl- N- n-octylethylamide)amine transports Rh(III) from aqueous HCl into an organic phase as the monoaquated dianion [RhCl5(H2O)]2- through the formation of an outer-sphere assembly; this assembly has been characterized by experimentation (slope analysis, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy, EXAFS, SANS, and ESI-MS) and computational modeling. The paper demonstrates the importance of applying a broad range of techniques to obtain a convincing mode of action for the complex processes involved in anion recognition in the solution phase. A consistent and comprehensive understanding of how the ligand operates to achieve Rh(III) selectivity over the competitor anion Cl- has emerged. This knowledge will guide the design of extractants and thus offers promise for improving the sustainability of metal extraction from both traditional mining sources and the recycling of secondary source materials.

Comparison of the Extractabilities of Tetrachloro- and Tetrabromopalladate(II) Ions with a Thiodiglycolamide Compound.

Using N,N,N',N'-tetra-2-ethylhexyl-thiodiglycolamide (TEHTDGA) in n-dodecane as the extractant, we compared the percentages of Pd(II) extracted from HCl and HBr solutions, and analyzed the structures of the Pd(II)-extractant complexes. For comparison, similar experiments were performed with di-n-hexyl sulfide (DHS), a well-known sulfide-type extractant. TEHTDGA extracted Pd(II) from both HCl and HBr solutions much faster than DHS. The Pd(II)/(TEHTDGA or DHS) stoichiometry in the organic phase was 1:2. For TEHTDGA, the extractability of Pd(II) from HBr solution was inferior to that from HCl solution, whereas the opposite was true for DHS. However, FT-IR spectroscopy and EXAFS measurements indicated that the inner-sphere structure of Pd(II) in the TEHTDGA complex was almost the same as that in the DHS system: in both cases, two of the halide ions in the tetrachloro- or tetrabromopalladate(II) ion were replaced by the sulfur atoms of two extractant molecules.

Selective Crystallization of Phosphoester Coordination Polymer for the Separation of Neodymium and Dysprosium: A Thermodynamic Approach.

Thermodynamics of the formation of coordination polymers (CPs) or metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has not been focused on, whereas many CPs or MOFs have been synthesized in a solution. With a view of separating Nd3+ and Dy3+ in an aqueous solution, we demonstrate that crystallization of the CPs of Nd3+ and Dy3+ based on dibutyl phosphoric acid (Hdbp) can be thermodynamically described; crystallization yields of [Ln(dbp)3] (Ln = Nd or Dy) complex are predicted well using a simple calculation, which takes the apparent solubility products (Kspa) for [Ln(dbp)3] and the acid dissociation constant of Hdbp into account. The Kspa values of [Nd(dbp)3] and [Dy(dbp)3] are experimentally determined to be (1.3 ± 0.1) × 10-14 and (2.9 ± 0.4) × 10-18 M4, respectively, at 20 °C. The ratio of these Kspa values, that is, ca. 4500, is significantly larger than the ratio of the solubility products for inorganic salts of Nd3+ and Dy3+. Therefore, Nd3+ and Dy3+ are selectively crystallized in an aqueous solution via the formation of CPs. Under optimized conditions, Dy3+ crystallization is preferable, whereas Nd3+ remains in the solution phase, where the ratio of the Dy molar content to the total metal content (i.e., Nd + Dy) in the crystal is higher than 0.9. The use of acids, such as HCl or HNO3, has no practical impact on the separation in an aqueous solution.

Structural properties of the inner coordination sphere of indium chloride complexes in organic and aqueous solutions.

The nature of the inner coordination sphere of In(3+) present in both the organic and aqueous solutions during the solvent extraction of In(3+) from an aqueous HCl solution with tri-n-octyl amine (TOA) was investigated by In K-edge XAFS. This information was then used to clarify the details of the extraction properties of indium chloride anion complexes with TOA. In aqueous HCl solution (0.1-10 M), In(3+) exists as octahedral anion complexes, [InCln(H2O)6-n](3-n) (n ≥ 4); the [InCl6](3-) complex is dominant at 10 M HCl. The extraction of In(3+) from HCl solution with TOA was performed using two kinds of diluents: nitrobenzene (NB) or n-dodecane (DD), which contained 20 vol% of 2-ethylhexanol as an additive. The stoichiometric composition of the extracted complexes, which is estimated from the distribution ratios of In(3+), is affected by the diluents and the HCl concentration of the aqueous phase; the apparent values of TOA/In(3+) in the extracted complex are 3 for DD-1 M HCl (diluent-aqueous phase) and DD-5 M HCl, 2 for NB-1 M HCl and NB-5 M HCl, and 1 for NB-10 M HCl. The EXAFS analysis of these extracted complexes shows that the In(3+) has ∼4 Cl(-) at ∼2.336 Å and no H2O in the inner coordination sphere; additionally, the shape of the XANES suggests that their coordination geometry is tetrahedral. Therefore, the same tetrahedral [InCl4](-) complex is formed during the extraction in spite of the variation in the stoichiometric composition (TOA/In(3+) = 1-3) of the extracted complexes.

Steric effect involved in Ln3+/Ce3+ exchange in a coordination polymer based on di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid.

Coordination polymers can be attractive ion exchange materials because of their crystallinity and semi-flexibility, which are rather opposing properties, and play integral and synergistic roles in introducing unique ion-exchange behavior. In this paper, Ln(3+)/Ce(3+) exchange (Ln(3+) = Nd(3+), Gd(3+), Dy(3+), or Lu(3+)) in a coordination polymer, [Ce(dehp)3], based on di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (Hdehp) is studied by distribution coefficient measurements, ion-exchange isotherms, Kielland plot analysis, and morphology observation. The ion-exchange selectivity is in the order Nd(3+) < Gd(3+) < Dy(3+) < Lu(3+) when a small amount of Ln(3+) is loaded, but Lu(3+) ≈ Nd(3+) < Gd(3+) ≈ Dy(3+) for a high loading ratio. The Kielland plot suggests that a steric effect is involved in the reactions, which becomes stronger in the order of Nd(3+)/Ce(3+) < Gd(3+)/Ce(3+) < Dy(3+)/Ce(3+) < Lu(3+)/Ce(3+) for exchange systems. This trend is attributable to the differences in the ionic sizes between an incoming Ln(3+) and original Ce(3+). Scanning electron microscopy observations reveal the generation of a new phase via the Ln(3+)/Ce(3+) exchange. Such a phenomena results from solid-solid transformation, rather than dissolution-recrystallization. The small steric strain in the Nd(3+)/Ce(3+) system leads to the formation of a Nd(3+)-and-Ce(3+) solid-solution, whereas the morphological change is possibly restrained by the strong strain caused by loaded Ln(3+) with an ionic size significantly smaller than the original Ce(3+).

Central metal ion exchange in a coordination polymer based on lanthanide ions and di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid: exchange rate and tunable affinity.

In this paper the exchange of lanthanide(III) ions (Ln(3+)) between a solution and a coordination polymer (CP) of di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (Hdehp), [Ln(dehp)3], is studied. Kinetic and selectivity studies suggest that a polymeric network of [Ln(dehp)3] has different characteristics than the corresponding monomeric complex. The reaction rate is remarkably slow and requires over 600 h to reach in nearly equilibrium, and this can be explained by the polymeric crystalline structure and high valency of Ln(3+). The affinity of the exchange reaction reaches a maximum with the Ln(3+) possessing an ionic radius 7% smaller than that of the central Ln(3+), therefore, the affinity of the [Ln(dehp)3] is tunable based on the choice of the central metal ion. Such unique affinity, which differs from the monomeric complex, can be explained by two factors: the coordination preference and steric strain caused by the polymeric structure. The latter likely becomes predominant for Ln(3+) exchange when the ionic radius of the ion in solution is smaller than the original Ln(3+) by more than 7%. Structural studies suggest that the incoming Ln(3+) forms a new phase though an exchange reaction, and this could plausibly cause the structural strain.

Tunable selectivity of lanthanide ion exchange within a coordination polymer.

The exchange of lanthanide(III) ions (Ln(3+)) between a solution and a coordination polymer (CP) formed by cerium(III) or samarium(III) ion and an organophosphorous ligand has been studied. The CPs exhibit distinctive Ln(3+) affinity that varies with a small change in its framework, depending on the central Ln(3+).

Analysis of continuous solvent extraction of nickel from spent electroless nickel plating baths by a mixer-settler.

It is urgent to develop an effective technique to treat the large amount of spent electroless nickel plating bath and recycle the high concentration nickel. In our previous study, high recycling efficiency of nickel from the model spent bath was obtained by continuous solvent extraction with 2-hydroxy-5-nonylacetophenone oxime (LIX84I) as the extractant and 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC88A) as the accelerator using a mixer-settler extractor. It was observed that the extraction efficiency was affected by the operation parameters such as the flow rates of the aqueous and organic phases and the total stage number. In the present study, the effects of the operation parameters on the extraction efficiency were quantitatively studied on the basis of the pseudo-first-order interfacial extraction rate equation together with the hydrodynamic properties in the mixer. The organic phase holdup, measured under varying conditions of the flow rates of both phases, was analyzed by the Takahashi-Takeuchi holdup model in order to estimate the specific interfacial area. The overall extraction rate coefficients defined by the product of the interfacial extraction rate constant and the specific interfacial area were evaluated using the experimental data and ranged from 3.5 x 10(-3) to 6.7 x 10(-3)s(-1), which was close to the value of 3.4 x 10(-3)s(-1) obtained by batch extraction. Finally, an engineering simulation method was established for assessing the extraction efficiency of nickel during a multistage operation.

The first effective extractant for trivalent rhodium in hydrochloric acid solution.

The first effective extractant capable of the selective recovery of rhodium3+ from hydrochloric acid solution, N-n-hexyl-bis(N-methyl-N-n-octylethylamide)amine (HBMOEAA), has been developed.