Phosphoric Metal Extractant for Selective Cobalt-Nickel Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metal extractants used in wet extraction methods suffer from low selectivity and slow phase separation rates, making them inefficient for separating and recovering valuable metals like cobalt and nickel from aqueous solutions.
Innovation Solution
A metal extractant represented by Formula (I) with specific substituents having molecular weights of 100 or higher, including at least one with 160 or higher, and incorporating a basic structure derived from a phosphoric acid-based compound, enhances selectivity and phase separation rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional metal extractants (alkylphosphonic acid monoalkyl esters with specific carbon chain lengths) are used for wet extraction, then metal ions can be extracted from water phase to organic phase, but the selectivity of metal ion extraction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the molecular weight and structure of the extractant's substituent groups. Specifically, it uses substituents with molecular weights of 100 or more (preferably 160 or more), such as branched alkyl groups with 9 or more carbon atoms, to enhance the selectivity of metal ion extraction. This structural parameter change enables the extractant to preferentially bind with target metal ions like cobalt and nickel over other metal ions in the mixture.
2Productivity
If conventional metal extractants are used for wet extraction, then metal ions can be extracted, but the liquid phase separation between water phase and oil phase takes a long period of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical properties of the extractant through specific molecular结构设计. The use of substituents with molecular weights of 100 or more (preferably 160 or more) creates sufficient density and viscosity differences between the organic phase and aqueous phase, enabling rapid phase separation within 5 minutes or less after mixing. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between extraction effectiveness and separation speed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The new metal extractant achieves high selectivity and rapid phase separation, allowing for efficient extraction and recovery of specific metal ions, particularly cobalt and nickel, with selectivity ratios of 3.0 or more and recovery rates of 60% or more.
Implementation Method 1
the metal ions to which the metal extractant is coordinated are moved (extracted) to the organic phase
Implementation Method 2
the metal extractant is represented by Formula (I)... R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrocarbon group
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Provided are a compound and a metal extractant represented by Formula (I), and a separation recovery method of metal ions using the metal extractant. In Formula (I), R1 and R2 each independently represent a substituent having a molecular weight of 100 or higher, in which at least one of the substituents has a molecular weight of 160 or higher. YP represents a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom. Z represents a hydroxy group, a sulfanyl group, or a hydroxyaryl group. L represents a single bond, in which in a case where n represents 2 or more, L interposed between two adjacent P's represents a single bond or a linking group. n represents an integer of 1 to 6.