Studies on the separation of some transition metals using trialkylimidazole as selective extractant

The possibility of Cu(II) ion separation from an equimolar Cu-Cd-Zn tertiary mixture by solvent extraction was investigated. The process was based on the use of 1,2,4-trimethylimidazole (TMI) and 1- decyl-2,4-dimethylimidazole (DDMI) as extractant. Dichloromethane was used as the solvent in the extraction process. The dissociation constant of extractants were found potentiometrically. Extraction data were used for finding stability constants and partition constants for the complexes being formed in the aqueous solution. For TMI, separation coefficients for Cu(II) with regard to zinc and cadmium are 2.9 and 1.3, respectively. For DDMI separation coefficients for Cu(II) with regard to zinc and cadmium are 1.4 and 1.6, respectively. Sparingly soluble in water 1-decyl-2,4-dimethylimidazole is a more useful extractant