The extraction of iron(III) by dioctylarsinic acid in chloroform

Dioctylarsinic acid, HDOAA, in chloroform solution has been investigated as a reagent for the extraction of iron(III) chloride. The extraction coefficient reaches two maxima, one of 1.5 at 8.5 M hydrochloric acid and another of 7 at pH 2.3. Experiments in the range 4–8 M for sulfuric, nitric and perchloric acids showed no extraction of iron(III) from these solutions for extraction times of 6 h. Evidence for the extraction of H₃FeCl₆ from 4–9 M hydrochloric acid solutions as [(H₂DOAA)⁺]₃FeCl₆^3- is presented. The species extracted from aqueous solutions of pH 1–2.3 is probably a hydroxy complex of the composition [Fe₂(DOAA)₂(HDOAA)X₄(H₂0)₂ ](X = OH and/or Cl).