Solvent extraction separation of tin (IV) with 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC-88A)

Solvent extraction of tin(IV) from hydrochloric acid media was carried out with 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC-88A) in toluene. Tin(IV) was quantitatively extracted with 2.5x10(-2) M PC-88A in toluene from 0.1-0.3 M HCl when equilibrated for 5 min. Tin(IV) from the organic phase was stripped with 4 M HCl and determined spectrophotometrically by both the morin and pyrocatechol violet method. The nature of the extracted species was determined from the log-log plots. Various other diluents such as xylene, hexane and cyclohexane also gave quantitative extraction of tin. The metal loading capacity of the reagent was found to be 0-15 ppm of tin(IV). The extraction of tin(IV) was carried out in the presence of various ions to ascertain the tolerance limit of individual ions. Tin(IV) was successfully separated from commonly associated metal ions such as antimony(III), bismuth(III), lead(II), thallium(I), copper(II), nickel(II), etc. The method was extended for determination of tin in real samples.