Selective Extraction of Cu2+ and Ag+ Ions from Sulfuric Acid by Synergistic Combinations of Tetradentate Thia Macrocycles with Dioodecylnaphthalene Sulfonic Acid

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Abstract
The aqueous-insoluble thia macrocycles tetrathia-14-crown-4 (TT14C4) and tetrathia-16-crown-4 (TT16C4) strongly and selectively synergize the extraction of Cu2+ and Ag+ ions from aqueous sulfuric acid solutions by the organophilic cation exchanger didodecylnaphthalene sulfonlc acid (HDDNS) in toluene diluent. Over a range of sulfuric acid concentrations, the selectivity is given by the order Ag2 > Cu2+ > Mn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, where synergism occurs only for Ag+ and Cu2+. Selectivity factors greater than 300 have been achieved for Cu2+ over ubiquitous Fe3+. The synergistic extraction of Cu2+ and Ag+ was explored as a function of sulfuric acid concentration, relative concentration of macrocycle vs. HDDNS, and loading.