Three-phase extraction study of cyanex 923–n-heptane/H2SO4 system

Phase behavior of the extraction system, Cyanex 923–heptane/H2SO4–H2O has been studied. The third phase appeared at different aqueous H2SO4 concentration with varying initial Cyanex 923 concentration and temperature affects its appearance. Almost all of H2SO4 and H2O are extracted into the middle phase. The H2SO4 concentration in the third phase increases with the increasing aqueous acid concentration (CH2SO4,b) while the water content first increases and then reaches a constant value at CH2SO4,b=11.3 mol l−1. In the region of CH2SO4,b higher than 5.2 mol l−1, the composition of the middle phase is only related to the equilibrium concentration of H2SO4 in the bottom phase. H2SO4 and H2O are transferred into the middle phase mainly by their coordination with Cyanex 923 when CH2SO4,b is less than 11.3 mol l−1. When CH2SO4,b is higher than 11.3 mol l−1, excess H2SO4 is solubilized into the polar layer of the aggregates. In the region considered, the extracted complex changes from C923 · H2SO4 to C923 · H2SO4 · H2O and then to C923 · (H2SO4)2 · H2O.