Extraction and recovery of cadmium(Ⅱ) using phosphine-oxide, tris[(dibutylamino)methyl]-(7CI,8CI) from nitric acid solutions

In the present article, a new separation system was employed for the extraction of cadmium from nitric acid solutions for the first time. Phosphine oxide, tris[(dibutylamino)methyl]-(7CI,8CI),which contains nitrogen atoms and phosphorus atom in molecular, was used as extractant. The influence of the following parameters was investigated: the organic/aqueous phase ratio (O/A), pH, contact time, temperature, the concentration of extractant, cadmium (Ⅱ), sodium nitrate and sodium chloride. Results demonstrated that quantitative extraction of cadmium was feasible from 50 mg/L cadmium feed solution in a single stage at pH 3.0, 15 min and O/A phase ratio 1:5 with 20% extractant in cyclohexane diluent. The cadmium extraction isotherm under different cadmium ion concentrations was established. The loaded cadmium could be stripped by 4 mol/L ammonium chloride aqueous solutions. A contrast study was carried out, and the results indicated that phosphine oxide, tris[(dibutylamino)methyl] –(7CI,8CI), could take the place of commercial organo-phosphorous extractants in the process of cadmium(II) extractions for its effectivity, stability and low price.