Extraction and separation of antimony(III) and (V) by a liquid cation-exchanger HDEHP

A systematic investigation was carried out on the extraction of Sb(III) and (V) with HDEHP from various acidic, neutral and alkaline solutions. Antimony(III) is best extracted from neutral or slightly acidic solutions, and the E values are nearly the same in the forward and backward extractions. Antimony(V) extraction is high only from concentrated HCl and HClO₄, and the E values are much larger in the backward direction. Extraction and separation of Sb(III) and (V) was studied as a function of acidity, alkalinity, anion and water-miscible organic additives in the aqueous phase, as well as the diluent used and HDEHP molarity. Separation factors obtained for Sb(III) and (V) were higher than when using isopropyl ether as solvent, which was hitherto used for this purpose.