Solvent extraction separation of antimony(III) with 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC-88A)

Abstract

Solvent extraction of antimony(III) from aqueous chloride with 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethyl hexyl ester (PC-88A) in toluene has been investigated. The optimum conditions required for quantitative ex traction have been determined by studying the effect of various parameters such as acid concentration, reagent concentration, diluent effect, stripping agent, equilibrium time and diverse ions.Antimony(III) is quantitatively extracted from 0.1 <i>M </i>HCl with 1.5×10^-¹ <i>M </i>PC-88A in toluene as well as xylene when equilibrated for 2 min. Antimony(III) from the loaded organic phase is stripped with 8.5 <i>M </i>H₂SO₄ and determined spectrophotometrically by iodide method. The method has been successfully applied for the separation of antimony(III) from commonly associated metals and its determination in real samples.