Solvent impregnated resin (STR) containing dialkyl dithiophosphoric acid on Amberlite XAD-2: Extraction of copper and comparison to the liquid-liquid extraction

The extraction of Cu(II) from chloride solutions at 0.19 M Cl- ionic strength by solvent impregnated resins (SIR) containing di-(2-ethylhexyl) dithiophosphoric acid (DEHTPA) on the Amberlite XAD-2 polymeric support has been studied. The distribution of DEHTPA between the aqueous phase and the resin phase was determined as a function of both pH and loading of DEHTPA ligand (HL) on the resin, The Cu(II) extraction are presented as plots of log distribution coefficient versus pH and DEHTPA concentration in the resin phase. Graphical and computer analysis showed that the extraction of Cu(II) can be explained by the formation of metal complexes in the resin phase of CuCl2(HL)(8) and CuClL(HL)(8) composition with values of equilibrium extraction constants K' = 9.19 max 9.41 and K '' = 7.69 max 7.99, respectively.