Water soluble crown ethers: selective masking agents for improving extraction-separation of zinc and lead cations

The presence of crown ethers 12C4, 15C5 and 18C6 (CE) in aqueous phase influences extraction-separation of zinc and lead ions (M²⁺) by acidic extractant bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA) in cyclohexane. In fact, higher complexing ability of the crown ethers towards lead ions causes a greater shift toward higher pH region of the extraction curves versus aqueous phase pH, and consequently an enhancement in the extraction selectivity. The order of extraction selectivity in the presence of the crown ethers varies as 18C6 > 15C5 > 12C4. The analysis of extraction data allows evaluating the stability constants of M?CE]²⁺ complexes in the aqueous phase. It is demonstrated that the influence of aqueous crown ethers on the extraction process is deeply affected by the organic diluent used. The influence of temperature on the extraction process was studied in the range 286–302 K. This study lets estimating the thermodynamic parameters, i.e., free-energy (ΔGº), enthalpy (ΔΗº), and entropy (ΔSº) changes associated with the extraction process as well as the complexation of cations by the crown ethers in water.