With The Mechanism Of The Toa Extraction Of Germanium From Sulfuric Acid System

The mechanics of extracted germanium from sulfuric acid with tri-n-octylamine and the composition of complex compound have been studied in this paper.In this work the tri-n-octylamine as extractant, the tartaric acid as complexing agent, the tributyl phosphate as modificator and the sulfonating kerosene oil as diluting agent. The optimum technological conditions which consist of extractant 30%, modificator 5% and diluting agent 65% has been determined. Moreover, the mechanics of extracted germanium has been researched in those conditions.Saturated complex compound forms in organic phase after 6 times extraction by means of saturated extraction. Through the composition analysis and attribute, we presume the construction of complex compound (Figure. 1) and research the mechanics of extraction in this system. The exactitude of complex compound has been verified by slope analysis method and the reason of complex compound's composition has been interpreted in the solution.The construction of complex compound has been determined with infrared spectrometer by means of KBr pressed disc method. The result shows that the coordinate action occurred between C=O in tri-n-octylamine and Ge⁴⁺ in solution. Furthermore, complex compound which coordination number is six can forms in the period of action between P=O in TBP and Ge(C₄H₄O₆)₃^2-.The factors effecting the balance of the extraction in sulfuric acid system have been discussed in our experiment. The mechanism in the field of the chemical extraction of inorganic acid and metal ions was quite clear, but it is worth mentioning that the micro-mechanism on extraction is still being developed, compared with the macroscopical technics of extraction. There are little investigation on the extraction of the vitriol, a polar organic. In the course of extraction, there may be the probability of hydrogen bond association, which will make it complicated to confirm the composition of complex compound in organic phase. Therefore, it is useful to study the mechanism of extraction not only to the isolation but also to the processing of enhanced sulfuric acid extraction.