Extraction of nickel from ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solutions using Acorga M5640 in Iberfluid

Acorga M5640 diluted in Iberfluid was used to extract nickel from ammoniaca l/ammonium carbonate solutions. The influence of equilibration time, extrac tant concentration, equilibrium pH and ammonium carbonate concentration on nickel extraction has been studied. The extent of nickel extraction decreas es at equilibrium pH values above 10, whereas the variation of the ammonium carbonate concentration in the range 0-100 g/l only slightly influences th e percentage of metal extraction. The loading capacity of a solution of 2.5 % v/v Acorga M5640 was determined to be 1.3 g/l Ni at pH 9.5, whereas in th e case of 10% v/v extractant the loading increases to 5.2 g/l metal. For a solution which contained 1 g/l nickel and 50 g/l ammonium carbonate (pH 9.5 ) conditions were established for nickel extraction, selective ammonia stri pping and nickel stripping. The percentage of metal extraction and strippin g exceeding 99%. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.