EXTRACTION OF ALKALI-METAL, MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM-IONS WITH LOPENTADIENYLTRIS(DIETHYLPHOSPHITO-P)COBALTATE(-1)

The extraction of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium io ns with the oxygen tripod ligand cyclopentadienyltris(diethylphosphito -P)cobaltate( -1), [(C5H5)Co{P(O)(OC2H5)(2)}(3)](-) has been studied a s a function of pH and ligand concentration. Li+ could be successfully separated from Na+ and K+. The separation of Li+ from Ca2+ and Mg2+ w as achieved by masking Mg2+ and Ca2+ with EDTA or by precipitating the m with the ligand before Li extraction. The composition and stability constants have been determined for the complexes of Li+, Mg2+, and Ca2 +.