The extraction of Yb(III) and Lu(III) with chloroform from aqueous solutions in the presence of cupferron

The equilibrium of distribution of Yb(III) and Lu(III) between chloroform and the aqueous phase in the presence of cupferron (the ammonium salt of N-nitrosophenylhydroxylamine) were studied as apH function of the aqueous phase and the concentration of N-nitrosophenylhydroxylamine (HL). The stability constants for theLnL _n ^3–n ) complexes (n=1÷3) being formed in the aqueous phase were established, as well as the equilibrium constants of the extraction reaction $$Ln(H_2 O)_m^{3 + } + 3HL_{(O)} \mathop \rightleftharpoons \limits^{K_{ex} } LnL_{3(O)} + 3H^ + + mH_2 O(Ln^{3 + } = Yb,Lu),$$ two-phase stability constants for theLnL ₃ complexes,pH _0.5 and the separation factor Lu(III) from Yb(III).