Extraction and separation of metals using LIX 84 AND D2EHPA diluted in kerosene from sulfate solution

The disposal of large quantities of electronic scraps gene-rated world wide is causing not only environmental problem but also loss of resources. Therefore, R & D efforts have been made to develop a suitable process for extraction and separation of metals viz. copper, zinc, cadmium and nickel expected from the leaching of e-scraps using solvent extra-ction process.Different process parameters viz.pH, aqueous to organic ratio, kinetics of extraction, extraction isoth-erm to establish stage requirement for extraction in conti-nuous mode etc have been studied to optimise the condition for the separation of metals. The studies showed the selec-tive extraction of copper after iron precipitation from the sulfuric acid leach solution of e-wastes containing ~1.0 g/L Cu and minor impurities with 2-hydroxy-5-nonylace-tophenoneoxime (LIX 84) above pH 2.0 in single stage. A scheme for separation of cadmium, zinc and nickel has been proposed using di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) under controlled pH of the aqueous solution. The order of extraction was found to be Zn> Cd> Ni.