Liquid-liquid extraction of tungsten(VI) with mesityl oxide application to an alloy steel

A new and simple method has been developed for the rapid extraction of tungsten(VI) with mesityl oxide. Quantitative extraction occurs from solutions 1M in hydrochloric acid and 12M in lithium chloride (as the salting-out agent) with 75% mesityl oxide in isobutyl methyl ketone. Tungsten is finally determined photometrically as the thiocyanate complex in the aqueous phase. Tungsten-(VI) can be extracted and determined satisfactorily in the presence of several elements. The method is shown to be applicable to an alloy steel.