Sulphuric acid influence on liquid-liquid extraction of Co(II) and Zn(II) by MIBK from NH(4)SCN medium

Liquid-liquid extraction of Co(II) and Zn(II) by methylisobutylcetone (MIBK) has been studied systematically from NH(4)SCN/H(2)SO(4) media. The influence of sulphuric acid concentration on the percentage of extraction of Co(II) and Zn(II) has been discussed. It is shown that sulphuric acid concentration has not the same effect on distribution curves of Co(II) and Zn(II). Thus, it is possible to have a separation of Zn(II) of Co(II) when NH(4)SCN] is 0.5 mol l(-1) and H(2)SO(4)] is about 2 mol l(-1). Under these conditions the separation factor (S(Zn/Co)) is around 580. The results are treated in terms of thermodynamic activities in aqueous phase, to determine the composition of the extracted complexes (M:SCN(-)) and to discuss the extraction mechanism.