Solvation of thiocyanate complexes of mercury(II) by 2-hexylpyridine from aqueous mineral acid solutions

The extraction of trace amounts of mercury(II) by 2-hexylpyridine dissolved in benzene from aqueous mineral acid solutions has been studied. The replacement of chloride, nitrate and sulfate ions by the potentially ambidentate, linear and less basic thiocyanate group offers interestingly high extraction coefficients. The value of the distribution coefficients may be lowered by complexing mercury with oxalate, thiosulfate, acetate or citrate ions in the aqueous phase. The possible mechanism of extraction has been discussed in the light of the results of extraction isotherms and slope analysis data. Distribution coefficients and separation factors of several metal ions relative to mercury(II) are reported for the three mineral acid systems and the possible removal of mercury along with some other inorganic pollutants from aqueous solutions is suggested.