Structure-performance relationship and molecular structure optimization design of acid phosphate ester extractants

The extraction performance of acid phosphate ester extractants (PEEs) decreases significantly as the acidity of the aqueous phase increases. Therefore, finding PEEs suitable for high-acid environments has become critical to addressing their performance attenuation. However, the unclear structure-performance relationship of PEEs has led to a lack of guidance in experimental synthesis, significantly impeding the emergence of new acid-resistant PEEs. To tackle these issues, ten novel phenyl phosphate ester extractants were designed based on the molecular formula of phosphodiester (R₁R₂P(=O)OH) and the conjugation effect of the benzene ring. The relationship between the intrinsic extraction performance of acid PEEs and substituent groups (phenoxy, alkoxy, and alkyl) was quantitatively established by calculating the Gibbs free energy changes of three primary reactions (dimer dissociation, monomer acid ionization, and metal coordination) during divalent cobalt ion extraction. Additionally, the impact of different substitution sites (para, meta, and ortho) of the benzene ring on the extraction performance of acid PEEs was studied. The results indicated that introducing phenoxy groups into traditional acid PEEs (P204 and P507) can effectively enhance the extractants’ acid ionization ability and thermodynamic driving force. The extraction performance of acid PEEs is positively correlated with the number of phenoxy groups, and carbon chain substitution at the meta-position of the benzene ring is the most advantageous. By screening five low-toxicity and low-cost phenolic hydroxyl reagents currently available on the market, design a phenyl phosphate ester extractant ([(CH₃)₃CCH₂C(CH₃)₂C₆H₄O]₂P(=O)OH, P-4TO) that combines cost and performance advantages. Furthermore, the transition state theory was used to confirm the feasibility of preparing/P^-4(−|-)TO, which provided a comprehensive theoretical research method for the future design and synthesis of efficient PEEs.