KINETIC-STUDY ON THE EXTRACTION OF COPPER FROM AQUEOUS ACETATE BUFFERS WITH VERSATIC ACID-10

Abstract

The extraction rate of copper(II) from aqueous acetate buffer solutions into Versatic Acid 10 dissolved in kerosene has been investigated using a constant interfacial-area unit cell. Two alternative kinetic equations were derived under the assumption of Langmuir adsorption isotherm for the organic phase - interface distribution of extractant. Experimental results show that the overall reaction is controlled by the formation step of the second intermediate complex,CuR2HR, and that the forward extraction rate is proportional to the copper concentration in the aqueous phase, inversely proportional to the hydrogen ion concentration and proportional to a more complex function of the Versatic Acid 10 concentration.