Liquid-liquid extraction of gallium(III) from chloride media with carboxylic acids in kerosene

The extraction behavior and mechanism of gallium(III) with Naphthenic Acid (NA), See-octylphenoxy acetic Acid (CA-12) and Sec-nonylphenoxy acetic Acid (CA-100) from hydrochloric acid solution was studied. The distribution equilibria of gallium (III) between carboxylic acids (NA, CA-12 and CA-100) dissolved in kerosene and acidic aqueous chloride media has been investigated as a function of the concentration of extractants in organic phase and concentration of hydrogen ion in aqueous phase. To get further information, we compared the extraction characteristics among NA, CA-12 and CA-100. The stoichio metry of the extracted species is determined on the basis of slope analysis and IR spectra. Gallium is extracted by a cation exchange mechanism as Ga(OH)R-2.2HR by NA and as GaR3.HR by CA-12 and CA-100.