Complex Extraction of Metals in an Aqueous Two-Phase System Based on Poly(Ethylene Oxide) 1500 and Sodium Nitrate

Molecules. 2019 Nov 11;24(22):4078. doi: 10.3390/molecules24224078.

Abstract

This article presents an ecologically safe aqueous two-phase system based on poly(ethylene oxide) with a molecular weight of 1500, designed for complex extraction of Ni(II), Co(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), and Al(III) from nitrate solutions. A kinetic dependence has been investigated for a distribution ratio for the metals examined. The influence of pH-values, temperature, initial metal concentration, and nitric acid content have on the extraction of a wide range of metals in the heterogeneous poly(ethylene oxide) 1500-NaNO3-H2O system has been discovered. As a result, the complex extraction of metals (EMe > 60%) was achieved in one step of extraction without introducing additional chemicals into the system.

Keywords: aqueous two-phase systems; e-waste; liquid-liquid equilibria; metal extraction; poly(ethylene oxide); sodium nitrate; spent Ni-MH battery.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Liquid-Liquid Extraction*
  • Metals / chemistry*
  • Metals / isolation & purification*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Nitrates / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Metals
  • Nitrates
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • sodium nitrate