Solvent Extraction of Gallium (III) from Acid Media by Adogen-464 in Toluene

Adogen-464 (Methyltrialkyl (C-8-C-10) ammonium chloride)/toluene has been utilized for the liquid-liquid extraction of gallium (III) ions from the acidic aqueous media. In this context, the effect of different variables such as pH, Adogen-464 concentration, contact time, organic/aqueous (O/A) phase ratio and diluents type on the extraction efficiency of Ga (III) were studied and optimized. About 97% of gallium ions were extracted from aqueous solution at pH 2.75 using 10% (v/v) of Adogen-464/toluene after 15 minutes shaking time, in presence of 2 M NaCl and O/A phase ratio of 2: 1. The stripping of the extracted Ga(III) species was successfully done and optimized using 0.5M HCl acid, 10 minutes contact time and A/O phase ratio; 1: 1. The investigation also included the extraction of Ga (III) from leach liquor of a selected silicate sample.