ABSTRACT

The distribution of iron between aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions and solutions of di2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid [(RO)2PO2H,HDEHP] prepared in methyl isobuthyl ketone (MIBK), diethyl ether (DEE)and isoamyl acetate (IAA) has been investigated. The distribution behaviour is consistent with the formation of the extraction complex, FeX6H3, where X denotes the anion (RO)2PO2.It was proposed that, the di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid (HDEHP) is converted to trimeric form HDEHP in MIBK, DEE and IAA, 3(HX)2 →2(HX)3. HDEHP has found wide application for selective extraction and separation of a number of elements.