Composition and process for the solvent extraction of metals using aldoxime or ketoxime extractants

Abstract

A solvent extraction composition is provided which comprises one or more orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime and at least one dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol and preferably a water immiscible organic solvent. The orthohydroxyarylaldoximes, or orthohydroxyarylketoximes commonly are of Formula (1), wherein R1 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is an ortho-hydroxyaryl group; and the dialkyl esters of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol commonly are of Formula (2), wherein R7 and R8 are each independently an optionally substituted alkyl group; R9 to R20 are each independently hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl; m, n and p are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 provided that m+n+p is greater than or equal to 1; and q is 1, 2 or 3. Preferred orthohydroxyarylaldoximes are 5-(C9 to C14alkyl)-2-hydroxybenzaldoximes and preferred orthohydroxyarylketoximes are 5-(C9 to C14alkyl)-2-hydroxyacetophenone oximes. Preferred dialkyl esters of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol are branched dialkyl esters comprising from 10 to 100 carbon atoms, wherein R7 or R8 are branched alkyl groups. Processes for the extraction of metal values from aqueous acidic and ammoniacal solutions are also provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.