Extraction of Au(III) Using Aromatic Ketones in Acidic Chloride Media

Recently, the extraction of Au(III) using the series of aliphatic ketones in hydrochloric acid media has been investigated in detail. The present study describes the extraction behaviors of Au(III) using a series of aromatic ketones, which has never been reported. Aromatic ketones with shorter alkyl side chains showed higher extractability. The rapid extraction and the extraction capacity using aromatic ketones were comparable to the industrial extractant dibutyl carbitol (DBC). Aromatic ketones, except acetophenone, are less soluble in water than DBC. The flash points of aromatic ketones are satisfactorily high for industrial operation, but their specific gravities comparable to that of water are unwelcome. Butyrophenone selectively extracted Au(III) from many other metals, except for high extraction of Fe(III) and Ga(III) at high concentrations. Au(III) extracted using butyrophenone recovered quantitatively as metallic gold by reduction using oxalic acid.