Solvent extraction of rare earth metal ions with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN)

Extraction of lutetium(III) and erbium(III) with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN or HL) in carbon tetrachloride from aqueous solutions was examined. The composition of the complex extracted was determined and it was found that the extraction process can be described by the following equation (Ln ³⁺=Lu, Er): $$Ln(H_2 O)_m^{3 + } + 3 HL_{(0)} mathop rightleftharpoons limits^{K_{ex} } LnL_{3(0)} + 3 H^ + + mH_2 O$$ The extraction constants (K _ex ) and two-phase stability constants (β ₃ ^x ) forLnL ₃ complexes have been evaluated.