Selective extraction of cobalt from strong acidic solutions containing cobalt and nickel through emulsion liquid membrane using TIOA as carrier

The present investigation deals with carrier-facilitated membrane transport of cobalt from strong acidic leach solutions containing cobalt and nickel by emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) using triisooctylamine (TIOA) as carrier. In this work, the zinc plant copper cake was leached with hydrochloric acid solution and main acidic leach solution containing various ions was obtained. After various ions in the acidic leach solution were separated, optimum conditions were determined. The results showed that it is possible to extract 99% of cobalt using ELM from strong acidic leach solutions, containing cobalt and nickel ions, at the optimum conditions.