EXTRACTION EQUILIBRIA OF GALLIUM (III) WITH LIX 54 FROM HYDROCHLORIC ACID SOLUTIONS

Abstract
Extraction equilibrium data of gallium (III) from hydrochloric acid solutions with LIX 54 dissolved in kerosene were measured at 20 and 60°C. The extraction mechanism, as shown by lineal plots, involves the formation of Ga(LIX 54)3 complexes. Extraction kinetics are much faster at higher temperatures. Gallium stripping from loaded extracts can be carried out by contacting these with aqueous solutions containing hydrochloric acid in a concentration range of 0.21-1.20 mol-g/dm3