Selective extraction of molybdenum (VI) with novel ionic liquid from nitric acid solution

ABSTRACT The novel ionic liquid [Aliq–336]+[HCit]− is produced by the reaction of tricaprylylmethyl ammonium chloride, Aliq–336, and tri-sodium citrate. In this investigation, the extraction of Mo(VI) from the nitric acid solution using ([Aliq-336]+[HCit]−) ionic liquid in toluene as a diluent was studied. The effects of various parameters on the extraction process such as shaking time, nitric acid concentration, ionic liquid concentration, hydrogen ion, nitrate ion, Mo(VI) concentration as well as temperature were evaluated. The loading capacity of the prepared ionic liquid was 0.078 mole of Mo(VI) per mole [Aliq-336]+[HCit]−. On the basis of IR spectra and the slope analysis method, the installation of the expected extracted metal species in the organic phase was found to be . As well, the average conditional extraction constant (KCex) for Mo(VI) extraction was 45.96 ± 3.5. The stripping percent of Mo(VI) reached the maximum value (exceeding 99.0%) with 0.5 mol/L sodium acetate as well as 1.0 mol/L of different mineral acids. Based on the obtained results, the prepared ionic liquid in toluene could be used for the effective extraction of molybdenum (VI) from a synthetic mixture of different metal ions found in fission products.