Counter-current separation of cobalt(II)–nickel(II) from aqueous sulphate media with a mixture of Primene JMT-Versatic 10 diluted in kerosene

Abstract

This work claims the use of the mixture of Primene®JMT-Versatic 10 [HJMT+·Versatic-] IL diluted in Kerosene as an extractant for cobalt/nickel separation from sulphate media by solvent extraction technique, its application on a continuous counter-current device is possible because the presence of Primene®JMT in the organic phase allows us to maintain the pH of the equilibrated aqueous phase at an almost stable value. The solvent extraction of cobalt and nickel ions is studied as a function of the extractant concentration in the organic phase and the concentration of both metals. By constructing the McCabe–Thiele diagram, we found that four steps are necessary to separate the cobalt(II) from the nickel(II) in sulphate media. A simulated continuous counter-current experiment corroborated the McCabe–Thiele predictions, obtaining a raffinate containing 83% of the inlet nickel with a purity of 99.9%, working with an A:O ratio 1:2