Separation of cobalt and nickel from acidic sulfate solutions using mixtures of di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DP-8R) and hydroxyoxime (ACORGA M5640)

DP-8R and ACORGA M5640 extractants diluted in Exxsol 13100 were used to co-extract cobalt and nickel from aqueous acidic sulfate media. The influences of equilibration time, temperature, equilibrium pH and reagent concentrations on the extraction of both metals have been studied. It was observed that both cobalt and nickel extraction are slightly sensitive to temperature but are pH dependent. Metal extraction equilibria are reached within about 5 min contact time. In addition, cobalt extraction depends on the extractant concentration in the organic phase. For a solution containing 0.5 g dm(-3) each of cobalt and nickel and an initial pH of 4.1, conditions were established for the co-extraction of both metals and selective stripping (with H2SO4) of cobalt and nickel. Using the appropriate reagent concentrations the yield (extraction stage) for both metals exceeded 90%, and stripping of cobalt and nickel was almost quantitative. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.