KINETICS OF COPPER-EXTRACTION BY LIX-84

The extraction kinetics of the Cu-LIX84 system was carried out in a Le wis type cell. The Cu extraction rate increased with increasing temper ature, pH and initial metal ion concentration. The extraction rate als o increased with increasing revolution speed of the impeller up to 250 rpm and thereafter it had hardly any effect. The apparent activation energy was found to be 40.6 KJ.mole(-1) which suggested that the rate limiting step is the diffusion of Cu ion from the aqueous phase to the interface for the formation of the Cu-LIX84 complex. The extraction r ate favoured lower acid concentrtion as the activity of the Cu ion inc reased with decreasing acid concentration. The equilibrium constant fo r extraction process was found out.