Selective extractive separation of zinc, cadmium and lead from iodide media with mesityl oxide

The extractive separation of zinc, cadmium and lead with mesityl oxide has been investigated as a function of iodide concentration and acidity. The recovery of these metals from the organic phase by back-extraction and the behaviour of other elements under the optimal conditions established for each metal ion have been examined. The method developed has been applied to the separation of these metals from rock samples before determination by spectrophotometry.