The Effect of Tartrate Ion on the Separation Behavior of Zinc and Cadmium in the Sulfate Solution

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tartrate ion (C4H4O62-) on the extraction and separation of zinc and cadmium using D2EHPA extractant. The presence of tartrate ion in the solution caused the shift of the extraction curve of zinc and cadmium to the more alkaline pH; however, the shifting rate for the cadmium extraction curve was more significant. In the absence of tartrate ion, ΔpH50% value was equal to 0.65. If 0.2 M tartrate ion were added to the aqueous phase, ΔpH50% value would increase to 1.09. The FT-IR analysis of organic phase showed that tartrate ion absorbed the organic phase along with zinc and cadmium. "Slope analysis method" also showed that 0.25 M and 0.5 M tartrate ion participated in the zinc-tartrate and cadmium-tartrate complex formation, respectively; however, extraction number was changed with increasing the tartrate ion concentration.

Keywords

• zinc
• cadmium
• d2ehpa
• tartrate ion
• ft-ir analysis
• slope analysis method.