Solvent Extraction Behavior of Copper Ions Using Hydrophobic Silica Gel

Solvent extraction of Cu2+ metal ions with thenyltrifluoroacetone in the presence of hydrophobic silica gel system was studied. In this extraction system, the extractability of the Cu2+ metal ions has been improved compared to the normal extraction system. Plots of the values of distribution ratio (logD) in logarithm for the Cu2+ metal ions as a function of aqueous pH were found to be linear relationship with slopes of almost +2. It was found that extracted metal ions can be transported not only into the organic phase but also into the hydrophobic silica gel phase. We clarified the extraction mechanism of solvent extraction system in the presence of the hydrophobic silica gel. This solvent extraction system may provide a new method with enhancement of extractability for the solvent extraction techniques compared to the normal extraction system.