Influence of diluent on the synergic extraction of divalent cobalt by the thenoyltrifluoroacetone-tribenzylamine perchlorate system

The effect of ten pure diluents and different mixtures of nitrobenzene and toluene on the synergic extraction of Co²⁺ by the thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA)-tribenzylamine (TBA) mixture is studied. The logarithm of the extraction constant of Co(TTA)₂ increases with increasing dielectric constant of the diluent, whereas the logarithm of the formation constant of the extracted adduct Co(TTA)₂TBA decreases with increasing dielectric constant of the diluent. This behaviour is explained by changes in the hydrophobic character of the extracted species. The theory of regular solutions is successfully applied to the extracted adduct. Consideration of the self-association of the amine salt is necessary in the treatment of the equilibria involved.