Separation of Copper and Nickel by Solvent Extraction Using LIX 664N

Abstract

<p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Separation of copper and nickel by liquid-liquid extraction from aqueous solutions was studied using LIX 664N in kerosene as solvent. Both metals were taken in their sulfate form and ratio of copper to nickel in feed solutions was maintained as 10:1. LIX 664N concentration in kerosene was varied from 10% to 40% (v/v) and its effect was studied on percent extraction of copper and nickel for organic to aqueous (O:A) phase ratio of 2:1 at pH 2. Experimental results showed that at pH 2, copper was selectively extracted from its mixture with nickel. Selectivity for copper extraction was as high as 6000 with 40% LIX 664N. Calculations using extraction isotherm indicate almost complete recovery of cop</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">per in two stages with O:A ratio of 1:1 and in one stage with O:A ratio of 2:1. After extraction of copper, the pH of raf</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">finate containing nickel was adjusted to a value of 9 by addition of ammonia solution. The effect of LIX 664N concen</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">tration on extraction of nickel was studied. Up to 8</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">% nickel could be extracted with 30% LIX 664N at O:A phase ratio of 2:1. Stripping of copper from the organic phase with 180 g/l sulfuric acid at O:A phase ratio of 1:1 gave 98.5% cop</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">per recovery in a two-stage operation.</span> </p

Extraction and Enrichment of Copper by Liquid Emulsion Membrane Using LIX 664N

“…There have been data on LIX 984N-C [9], LIX 54 [10], LIX 84 [11] for copper extraction by LEMs. In this sudy extractant LIX 664N has been selected based on the excellent extractive property of LIX 664N for copper by solvent extraction [12]. LIX 664N is a mixture of 5-nonylsalicylaldoxime with a proprietary ester modifier and a high flash point hydrocarbon diluent.…”