Complex Extraction of Metals in an Aqueous Two-Phase System Based on Poly(Ethylene Oxide) 1500 and Sodium Nitrate

Abstract

This article presents an ecologically safe aqueous two-phase system based on poly(ethylene oxide) with a molecular weight of 1500, designed for complex extraction of Ni(II), Co(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), and Al(III) from nitrate solutions. A kinetic dependence has been investigated for a distribution ratio for the metals examined. The influence of pH-values, temperature, initial metal concentration, and nitric acid content have on the extraction of a wide range of metals in the heterogeneous poly(ethylene oxide) 1500-NaNO3-H2O system has been discovered. As a result, the complex extraction of metals (EMe > 60%) was achieved in one step of extraction without introducing additional chemicals into the system.

Keywords

• aqueous two-phase systems
• metal extraction
• liquid-liquid equilibria
• spent ni-mh battery
• e-waste
• poly(ethylene oxide)
• sodium nitrate