STUDY ON THE KINETICS OF COPPER LIX54 SYSTEM USING A ROTATING DIFFUSION CELL

The kinetics of solvent extraction of copper from aqueous ammoniacal s olutions using the chelating agent LIX54 (phenyl alkyl betadiketone) w as studied. A rotating diffusion cell with porous membrane was used to measure experimentally the influence of the copper concentration in t he water phase and pH in the range from 8 to 9.5, the concentration of LIX54 in the organic phase and the temperature on the extraction flux . A mathematical description which take into account a homogeneous che mical reaction in the aqueous-phase reaction zone was proposed. The fo rward acid reverse reaction rate constants were calculated and the act ivation energy was determined.