Polyurethane foam extraction of platinum-tin halide complexes

The sorptive capacity of the polyether-based foam was determined to be between 0.85 and 0.92 moles/kg for the platinum-tin(II) chloride complex. At hydrochloric and hydrobromic acid concentrations up to 3.0M, the platinum-tin(II) bromide complex had higher extraction efficiencies than the platinum-tin(II) chloride complex. Sorptions were optimized at 5.0M hydrochloric acid and 3.0M hydrobromic acid and distribution ratios as high as 2.0 x 10(5) 1./kg were observed at high foam:platinum ratios. The percent of platinum extracted increased when the alkali metal cations are added in the order K(+) < Na(+) < Li(+) for polyether foam, and decreased in the order K(+) > Na(+) > Li(+) for polyester foam. Also, the sorption efficiencies increased as the proportion of poly(ethylene oxide) of the foam was increased. A Scatchard plot analysis shows that there is a 2:1 ratio of loosely bound platinum to tightly bound platinum with the polyether foam, however, the experimental results are consistent with a weak-base anion exchange mechanism as the prominent method of sorption. For polyester foam, results are consistent with a solvent-like ion-pair sorption mechanism.     

Sorption of iron(III) and iron(II) from acidic chloride solutions by polyether and polyester type polyurethane foams

Summary Iron(III) is sorbed by polyether type open-cell polyurethane foams from HCl solutions of 4 mol/l or higher. The capacity of the foams is around 50 mg·l^–1. The iron (III) sorbed can be eluted from the foam with 0.01 mol/l HCl or distilled water. An optimization of the sorption conditions showed that the process can be used for analytical applications. The polyurethane foam sorbents examined did not sorb iron(II). The mechanism of sorption by polyether foams seems to follow a mechanism similar to that of the extraction of iron(III) by etheric solvents.     

Determination of tellurium in ores, concentrates and related materials by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry after separations by iron collection and xanthate extraction

A method for determining approximately 0.01 mug/g or more of tellurium in ores, concentrates, rocks, soils and sediments is described. After sample decomposition and evaporation of the solution to incipient dryness, tellurium is separated from > 300 mug of copper by co-precipitation with hydrous ferric oxide from an ammoniacal medium and the precipitate is dissolved in 10M hydrochloric acid. Alternatively, for samples containing 300 mug of copper, the salts are dissolved in 10M hydrochloric acid. Tellurium in the resultant solutions is reduced to the quadrivalent state by heating and separated from iron, lead and various other elements by a single cyclohexane extraction of its xanthate complex from approximately 9.5M hydrochloric acid in the presence of thiosemicarbazide as a complexing agent for copper. After washing with 10M hydrochloric acid followed by water to remove residual iron, chloride and soluble salts, tellurium is stripped from the extract with 16M nitric acid and finally determined, in a 2% v/v nitric acid medium, by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry at 214.3 nm in the presence of nickel as matrix modifier. Small amounts of gold and palladium, which are partly co-extracted as xanthates if the iron-collection step is omitted, do not interfere. Co-extraction of arsenic is avoided by volatilizing it as the bromide during the decomposition step. The method is directly applicable, without the co-precipitation step, to most rocks, soils and sediments.     

Polyurethane foams as selective sorbents for noble metals : Quantitative extraction and separation of rhodium from iridium in hydrochloric acid containing tin(II) chloride

The distribution of rhodium(III) between polyether-type polyurethane foam and 0.5–5.0 mol dm^?3 hydrochloric acid in the presence of small amounts of tin(II) chloride is described. The distribution of rhodium is affected by the extraction temperature, acid concentration and the Sn(II):Rh ratio. The capacity of the polyurethane foam for rhodium is in excess of 0.5 mmol g^?1. Rhodium is presumably sorbed in the form of a chloro(trichlorostannato)rhodium(III/I) complex anion. Iridium is not extracted by the foam under corresponding conditions and can be separated quantitatively from rhodium.     

Spectrophotometric determination of platinum in glass after extraction with polyurethane foam

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for determination of trace amounts of platinum in glass. The method is based on the extraction of platinum(II) from 1M hydrochloric acid containing 0.2M stannous chloride and 4 x 10(-4)M dithizone onto polyurethane foam, elution with acetone (containing 3% v/v concentrated hydrochloric acid) and measurement of the absorbance of the eluate at 530 nm. Beer's law is obeyed up to 10.0 microg/ml Pt. The minimum platinum level in the eluate that can be determined by this method is 0.1 microg/ml.     

Liquid-liquid extraction separation and sequential determination of plutonium and americium in environmental samples by alpha-spectrometry

A procedure is described by which plutonium and americium can be determined in environmental samples. The sample is leached with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, and the two elements are co-precipitated with ferric hydroxide and calcium oxalate. The calcium oxalate is incinerated at 450 degrees and the ash is dissolved in nitric acid. Plutonium is extracted with tri-n-octylamine solution in xylene from 4M nitric acid and stripped with ammonium iodide/hydrochloric acid. Americium is extracted with thenoyltrifluoroacetone solution in xylene at pH 4 together with rare-earth elements and stripped with 1M nitric acid. Americium and the rare-earth elements thus separated are sorbed on Dowex 1 x 4 resin from 1M nitric acid in 93% methanol, the rare-earth elements are eluted with 0.1M hydrochloric acid/0.5M ammonium thiocyanate/80% methanol and the americium is finally eluted with 1.5M hydrochloric acid in 86% methanol. Plutonium and americium in each fraction are electro-deposited and determined by alpha-spectrometry. Overall average recoveries are 81% for plutonium and 59% for americium.     

Spectrophotometric determination of germanium in ores, concentrates, zinc-processing products and related materials with phenylfluorone and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide after separation by iron collection and heptane extraction of germanium tetrachloride

A method for determining approximately 0.2 microg/g or more of germanium in ores, concentrates, zinc-processing products and related materials is described. The sample is decomposed by fusion with sodium peroxide and the cooled melt is dissolved in dilute sulphuric acid. Silica, if > 50 mg, is removed by volatilization with hydrofluoric acid. Germanium is separated from sodium salts by co-precipitation with hydrous ferric oxide, the precipitate is dissolved in 3M hydrochloric acid and germanium is subsequently separated from iron(III) and other co-precipitated elements by a single heptane extraction of germanium tetrachloride from approximately 9.4M hydrochloric acid. The extract is washed with 12M hydrochloric acid to remove residual iron(III), then germanium is stripped with water and determined spectrophotometrically with phenylfluorone in a 1.4M hydrochloric acid-0.002M cetyltrimethylammonium bromide medium in the presence of ascorbic acid as a reductant for co-extracted chlorine. The apparent molar absorptivity of the complex is 1.71 x 10(4) l.mole(-1).mm(-1) at 507 nm, the wavelength of maximum absorption. Up to 5 mg of tin(IV), 10 mg of antimony(V) and tungsten(VI) and approximately 50 mg of silica do not interfere. Germanium values are given for some Canadian certified reference ores, concentrates and iron-formation samples and for a metallurgical dust.     

An evaluation of four titrimetric methods for the determination of lead in ores

Four titrimetric methods for the determination of lead in ores were evaluated. In the absence of bismuth and indium, a method based on EDTA titration of lead, after chloroform extraction of lead diethyldithiocarbamate, yields accurate and more precise results than the other methods evaluated. Interference from indium can be avoided by di-isopropyl ether extraction of its bromide from 6M hydrobromic acid. Interference from bismuth can be eliminated by separating it from lead by chloroform extraction of its xanthate from 2M hydrochloric acid-tartaric acid media.     

Separation and concentration of molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) with chelating ion-exchange resins containing sulphur ligands

Three chelating ion-exchange resins based on macroreticular polyacrylonitrile-divinylbenzene copolymers with thioglycollic acid and cysteine as functional groups have been tested for separation of molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI). On a short column of the thioglycollic acid resin, molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) can be selectively sorbed from pH-4.3 acetate buffer and eluted with 2M hydrochloric acid and a mixture of 0.1M sodium hydroxide and 0.1M sodium chloride, respectively, with quantitative recovery even at very low concentrations. Simulated sea-water samples have been analysed.     

Anion-exchange enrichment and spectrophotometric determination of uranium in sea-water

A method is proposed for the determination of uranium in sea-water. The uranium is strongly sorbed on a strongly basic anion-exchange resin (Cl(-) form) from acidified sea-water containing sodium azide (0.3M) and is easily eluted with 1M hydrochloric acid. Uranium in the effluent can be determined spectrophotometrically with Arsenazo III. The combined method allows easy and selective determination of uranium in sea-water without using a sophisticated adsorbent. The overall recovery and precision are satisfactory at the 3 mug/1. level.     

Improved tribenzylamine-silver bromide extraction/atomic-absorption spectrophotometric method for the determination of silver in ores, related materials and zinc process solutions

An improved tribenzylamine extraction/atomic-absorption method for the determination of silver in ores, related materials and zinc process solutions is described. The method, which involves the separation of silver by a single methyl isobutyl ketone extraction of the tribenzylamine-silver bromide ion-association complex from ~ 0.5-2M sulphuric acid-0.14M potassium bromide, is simpler and more rapid than a previous method based on a triple chloroform extraction of the complex. Silver is stripped with 12M hydrochloric acid containing 1% thiourea as a complexing agent. Thiourea is destroyed with nitric and perchloric acids and silver is ultimately determined by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry in an air-acetylene flame, at 328.1 nm, in a 10% v v hydrochloric acid-1% v v diethylenetriamine medium. Cadmium and bismuth are partly co-extracted but do not interfere. Results obtained by this method are compared with those obtained previously by the tribenzylamine/chloroform extraction method and with those obtained by a direct acid-decomposition/atomic-absorption method.     

Extraction of aromatic acids and phenols by polyurethane foam

The extraction of several aromatic acids and phenols including salicylic acid, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 1-amino-2-naphthol-4-sulphonic acid and cinnamic acid in the presence of various protonated alkylamines, ammonia and alkali metal cations from aqueous solution by polyurethane foam has been investigated. These compounds are extracted only in the neutral form by a solvent extraction mechanism. The mechanism has been confirmed by the salting-out effect and pH studies. With the exception of 8-hydroxyquinoline, the compounds are more extractable by polyether foam than by polyester foam, suggesting that hydrogen bonding is stronger with the polyether foam.     

Determination of tellurium in copper, lead and selenium by atomic-absorption spectrometry after extraction of the trioctylmethylammonium-tellurium bromide complex

A simple, rapid and sensitive combined solvent extraction and atomic-absorption spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of tellurium in copper, lead, selenium and blister copper. Tellurium is extracted as the trioctylmethylammonium-tellurium(IV) bromide complex into butyl acetate and determined by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry of the extract. As little as 1 mug of tellurium in a sample can be determined. The extraction of tellurium from hydrobromic acid solution with trioctylamine has also been investigated.     

Determination of scandium in wolframite and in the residues obtained after the extraction of tungsten

The separation of scandium from iron and manganese by extraction with TBP from hydrochloric acid was studied in detail and this method was applied to the estimation of scandium in wolframite and its residues. The method consists of the extraction of tungsten from the wolframite with sodium carbonate, dissolution of the residue in hydrochloric acid and preferential extraction of iron and scandium from hydrochloric acid, stripping of the scandium with 8 M hydrochloric acid and re-extraction of accompanying iron with fresh TBP, precipitation of scandium with ammonia in presence of ammonium chloride, and final purification of the scandium by TBP extraction.     

Determination of antimony in ores and related materials by continuous hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry after separation by xanthate extraction

A continuous hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometric method for determining approximately 0.02 mug/g or more of antimony in ores, concentrates, rocks, soils and sediments is described. The method involves the reduction of antimony(V) to antimony(III) by heating with hypophosphorous acid in a 4.5M hydrochloric acid-tartaric acid medium and its separation by filtration, if necessary, from any elemental arsenic, selenium and tellurium produced during the reduction step. Antimony is subsequently separated from iron, lead, zinc, tin and various other elements by a single cyclohexane extraction of its xanthate complex from approximately 4.5M hydrochloric acid/0.2M sulphuric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid as a reluctant for iron(III). After the extract is washed, if necessary, with 10% hydrochloric acid-2% thiourea solution to remove co-extracted copper, followed by 4.5M hydrochloric acid to remove residual iron and other elements, antimony(III) in the extract is oxidized to antimony(V) with bromine solution in carbon tetrachloride and stripped into dilute sulphuric acid containing tartaric acid. Following the removal of bromine by evaporation of the solution, antimony(V) is reduced to antimony(III) with potassium iodide in approximately 3M hydrochloric acid and finally determined by hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry at 217.8 nm with sodium borohydride as reluctant. Interference from platinum and palladium, which are partly co-extracted as xanthates under the proposed conditions, is eliminated by complexing them with thiosemicarbazide during the iodide reduction step. Interference from gold is avoided by using a 3M hydrochloric acid medium for the hydride-generation step. Under these conditions gold forms a stable iodide complex.     

The separation of tellurium(IV) from water and sea water by flotation with hydrated iron(III) oxide

A flotation separation is described for sub-microgram levels of tellurium(IV) from 1-1 samples of water and sea water. Tellurium(IV) is coprecipitated with hydrated iron(III) oxide at pH 8–9. The precipitate is floated with the aid of surfactant solutions and small nitrogen bubbles, separated and dissolved in dilute hydrochloric acid. Tellurium is then converted to hydrogen telluride with sodium tetrahydroborate and measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Recovery of added tellurium (0.4 and 0.8 μg l^?1) was about 83%. The time required for the preconcentration is 30 rain per sample, including 15 rain stirring.     

Preconcentration of cobalt with N-(dithiocarboxy)sarcosine and amberlite xad-4 resin

Cobalt reacts with N-(dithiocarboxy)sarcosine (DTCS) to form a 1:3 Co:DTCS complex which is so stable that after its formation no decomposition occurs even in 4M hydrochloric acid. The complex is sorbed on a column of Amberlite XAD-4 copolymer from an acidic solution and eluted with 10 ml of a 1:1:3 v v mixture of 1.0M ammonia solution (pH = 9), 0.1M EDTA and methanol. The absorbance of the eluted chelate is measured at 320 nm against water ( = 2.15 x 10(4) l.mole(-1).cm(-1)). The recovery of cobalt from 1 litre of tap-water or sea-water is quantitative. The effect of diverse ions can be eliminated by the addition of EDTA after chelation of the cobalt. The copper complex with DTCS is partly sorbed on the column because of its slow rate of decomposition by EDTA, but most of the copper chelate sorbed can be eluted with hydrochloric acid and any co-eluted with the cobalt chelate can be completely decomposed by heating the eluate. Cobalt enrichment factors of at least 100 are obtained, so the method is applicable to the determination of cobalt at the ng ml level.     

Extraction mechanism of monovalent ion-pairs by polyurethane foams

The extractability sequence of K(+) approximately Rb(+) > Cs(+) > Na(+) > Li(+) for the extraction with polyether foam suggests that the cation chelation mechanism might be operative. However, the same order was obtained for the extraction with 100% polypropylene oxide polyether foam which does not normally adopt a helical structure to form oxygen-rich cavities as easily or as effectively as polyethylene oxide to accommodate alkali metal ions. This result indicates that a hole-size/cation-diameter relationship may not be required for the high extraction of K(+). The extraction of alkali metal DPAs and hydroxides from methanol demonstrates the importance of the solvent effect. It indicates that the water-structure enforced ion-pairing (WSEIP) is the driving force for extraction of the ion-pairs. The extraction mechanism for ionic species can be described as an ion-pair extraction process. The overall effect of ion-pair formation in water and interaction of the extracted ions with foam appears to determine the extractability of the ions of the extractable ion-pair.     

The separation of W(V) from HCl-KSCN medium on polyurethane foam sorbents for its spectrophotometric determination in steels and silicates

A simple procedure for selective sorption of tungsten is described. The method involves reduction of W(VI) to W(V) with tin(II) chloride (2%, w/v) at 8-9M hydrochloric acid, formation of the W(V)-SCN complex with 0.2M KSCN and its sorption on polyurethane foam within 20 min. The sorbed complex is then eluted with acidified acetone (1 ml of 1M hydrochloric acid and 8 ml of acetone) followed by addition of 1 ml of 0.1M KSCN to the eluent. The method has been applied to the spectrophotometric determination of tungsten in steels and silicates by measuring the absorbance of the eluted solution at 400 nm. Beer's law is obeyed for the range 0.1-12 mug W/ml. Other elements, e.g., Co(III) (50 mug/ml), Cu(II) (10 mug/ml), Ti(IV) (20 mug/ml), V(V) (10 mug/ml) and Mo(VI) (0.5 mug/ml) have no effect on the method. Interference of copper, up to 100 mug/ml has been eliminated by masking with thiourea and that due to molybdenum by prior separation with thioglycollic acid on PUF. The method has been verified with standard samples.     

Extraction of Am(III) from different acid media by di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid containing phosphorous pentoxide

The extraction of Am(III) from nitric, hydrochloric, oxalic, phosphoric and hydrofluoric acids was studied using 0.4F di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid (HDEHP) containing 0.1M phosphorous pentoxide (P₂O₅) in dodecane/xylene. The extraction with pure 0.4F HDEHP was found to be negligible from all the media studied. However, the presence of a small amount of P₂O₅ in it increased the extraction substantially. The distribution ratios of Am(III) obtained for HDEHP - P₂O₅ mixture 3M nitric acid containing different concentrations of oxalic acid/phosphoric acid/hydrofluoric acid are in the order of 200-250. The same for 3M hydrochloric acid is very high (800). These distribution ratios are sufficiently high for the quantitative extraction of Am(III) from all the acid media studied. Different reagents such as ammonium oxalate, sodium oxalate, oxalic acid, hydrofluoric acid, sodium carbonate and potassium sulphate were explored for the back extraction of Am(III) from 0.4F HDEHP + 0.1M P₂O₅ in dodecane/xylene. Of these, 0.35M ammonium oxalate and 1M sodium carbonate were found to be most suitable. The back extraction of Am(III) was also attempted with water and 1M H₂SO₄, HNO₃, HClO₄ and HCl solutions after allowing the extracted organics to degrade on its own. It was found that more than 90% of Am could be back extracted with these acids. Using this method more than 90% of Am(III) was recovered from nitric acid solutions containing calcium and fluoride ions.