Equilibrium Analysis of Aggregation Behavior in the Solvent Extraction of Cu(II) from Sulfuric Acid by Didodecylnaphthalene Sulfonic Acid

Abstract

By use of the principles of equilibrium analysis, the liquid-liquid cation exchange of Cu(II) from aqueous sulfuric acid at 25°C by didodecylnaphthalenesulfonic acid (HDDNS) in toluene may be understood in terms of small hydrated aggregated species in the organic phase. Extraction data have been measured as a function of organic-phase HDDNS molarity (1.0 × 10⁻⁴ to 1.0 × 10⁻¹), aqueous copper(II) sulfate molarity (1.2 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.3 × 10⁻²), and aqueous sulfuric acid molarity (0.03 to 6.0). Graphical analysis of linear regions of the data support a model in which organic-phase aggregates of HDDNS function by cation exchange to incorporate Cu(II) ions with no apparent change in aggregation number at low loading. Supporting FTIR spectra and water-content measurements of HDDNS solutions in toluene show that the HDDNS aggregates are highly hydrated. By use of the computer program SXLSQA, a comprehensive equilibrium model was developed with inclusion of activity effects. Aqueous-phase activity coefficients and degree of aqueous bisulfate formation were estimated by use of the Pitzer treatment. Organic-phase nonideality was estimated by the Hildebrand-Scott treatment and was shown to be a negligible effect under the conditions tested. Excluding aqueous sulfuric acid molarities greater than 1, it was possible to model the data to within experimental error by assuming only the equilibrium extraction of Cu²⁺ ion by the aggregate (HDDNS)₄(H₂O)₂₂ and the equilibrium dissociation of (HDDNS)₄(H₂O)₂₂ to the monomer. The dependence of Cu(II) distribution on aqueous sulfuric acid molarity was shown to be quantitatively consistent with a cation-exchange process. In comparison with the graphical approach, the computer analysis allows comprehensive model testing over large, nonlinear data sets and eliminates the need to make limiting assumptions. Overall, the results provide useful insight toward the development of selective synergistic extraction systems in which HDDNS provides a nonselective cation-exchange vehicle in combination with a selective second extractant.